Daniel Farke and his Leeds United players are under pressure after dropping more points against Swansea. They are now running the real risk of missing out on automatic promotion for the second season in a row. However, the Leeds boss has given a bold message to the players to ease the mental load on them this week.
There is no denying that Leeds United are facing the threat of fumbling automatic promotion again by imploding towards the business end of the campaign.
Leeds have dropped points in four of their last five league games, and the supporters are on edge as their side look jaded and unimpressive on the pitch at this crucial stage of the season.
Daniel Farke is definitely feeling the heat, especially with the way he has backed Illan Meslier, who has cost the Whites double-digit points this term with his goalkeeping errors.
However, the Leeds boss has given a message of calmness to the players ahead of the Luton game next weekend.
“I told them to relax” – Daniel Farke
The Luton Town game on Saturday will be huge for Leeds’ promotion hopes, and the players will be working hard this week to ensure they are ready for the fixture.
However, Farke revealed after the game that he had asked the players to forget about football for a couple of days so that they could recharge their mental batteries.
He insisted that he needs his players with a fresh mind this week and stressed that his team are still in a good position to get promoted at the end of the season.
“I told them for 48 hours, you clear your mind, don’t think about football”, he said in the press conference after the game.
“They [the players representing their countries in the last fortnight] have spent so much time away right now. Some of them came straight from the flight to the training ground, and it was difficult for them.
“Clear your heads, be ready, and we go again for the last seven games. We are in a pretty good position and we have a lot to play for and hopefully to cheer about.”
Can the Leeds players handle the pressure?
Leeds have dropped points against teams they were expected to beat in the last few weeks, and clearly, something is off about their football at the business end of the season.
The players seem mentally and physically tired, and decisions like rushing Ethan Ampadu back into the starting eleven show that even Farke is feeling the pressure.
Can you name the season these 10 Leeds United shirts are from?
It is a good idea for the manager to ask the players to get away from all the talk for a couple of days and replenish their bodies and minds ahead of the Luton game.
However, the players are under pressure to deliver, especially as the fans have the memories of the squad imploding towards the end of last season.
