Daniel Farke’s future at Leeds United is still under the scanner despite his team’s creditable performance in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City. It’s the spectre of Jesse Marsch from the past that is giving the 49ers a big decision to make soon.
Leeds are on a four-game losing streak and have suffered six defeats in the last seven. They are still in the relegation zone, and are staring down at an all-mighty struggle to stay in the Premier League.
However, the performance in the second half against Manchester United has reignited some hopes, especially with Farke deciding to change his tactics and making proactive substitutions at the Etihad.
It has given rise to suggestions that the manager could still be given more time to fix things at Elland Road. However, the club’s mistake in backing Jesse Marsch in the 2022/23 season is not helping Farke’s case.
The Jesse Marsch moment at Anfield from the 2022/23 season
The 2022/23 season still haunts decision-makers at Leeds as they feel that the club were allowed to go from one disaster to another without any reaction.
Many feel that by the time Marsch was sacked, it was too late and the damage was irreparable, which led to the Whites getting relegated from the Premier League.
The fightback against Manchester City on Saturday is now being equated to Marsch leading Leeds to a brilliant result against Liverpool at Anfield.
Leeds had collected just six points from their first 11 games of the season. In game 12, Marsch steered Leeds to a stunning 2–1 win at title-chasing Liverpool, their first triumph at Anfield since 2001 and the first team to beat Liverpool there since Fulham in 2020–21.
The result saved the American’s job at Leeds for the time being, and he was allowed to do more damage to their season.
| Matches | 32 |
|---|---|
| Wins | 8 |
| Draws | 9 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Goals For | 39 |
| Goals Against | 53 |
| Points | 33 |
| Points per Match (PPM) | 1.03 |
Leeds’ poor run continued, yielding just six points in eight outings, and on 6th February 2023, the club sacked Marsch with the side stranded in 17th place.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United future is on the edge
Farke is far from being safe at Leeds. A good second-half performance cannot wipe away the litany of mistakes he made over the last month.
A run of six defeats in seven is not good enough, and while Leeds were always expected to be in the relegation fight this season, their lack of cutting edge in the final third and the negative tactics have alarmed fans.
An in-form Chelsea side are set to visit Leeds on Wednesday night, and Farke needs a result to ensure that he is given more time to fix things.
Another defeat is not going to help, especially with his Premier League record, which says nine wins in 62 games.
| Matches | 62 |
|---|---|
| Wins | 9 |
| Draws | 10 |
| Losses | 43 |
| Goals For | 44 |
| Goals Against | 126 |
| Points | 37 |
| Points per Match (PPM) | 0.60 |
Marsch’s win at Liverpool proved to be a mirage, and Leeds continued to fall, which eventually led to their relegation at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Farke has to prove that the second-half show at the Etihad was a real sign of progress, rather than a momentary show of good performance.
The Chelsea game is Farke’s last chance to show the 49ers that he is not Jesse Marsch in disguise.
