Leeds United finished the season 14th in the Premier League table on 47 points and ended up well clear of the dreaded relegation zone.
However, Leeds were tipped as one of the favourites to get relegated as soon as they secured promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
The recent performances of promoted teams in the top tier, coupled with Daniel Farke’s own horrible record in the Premier League previously with Norwich City, played into that narrative.
Leeds also had a turbulent summer, where they failed to land a few of their top targets, and Mateo Joseph forced his way out of the club to join Mallorca on a season-long loan.
Mateo Joseph suffers relegation in Spain
The Spanish striker refused to return to pre-season training last summer and made it clear that he wanted to move on from Leeds.
Daniel Farke was quick to boot him out of his plans for the season, and Leeds eventually agreed to a simple loan deal with Mallorca for Joseph last summer.
The Spaniard has had a dreadful time at Mallorca and suffered a serious knee injury in April, which ruled him out for months.
Mallorca finished 18th in La Liga and suffered relegation from the Spanish top tier. Joseph has become part of a team that went down in Spain.
He forced his way out of Leeds and gambled on himself to do well in Spain. However, he struggled to score, got injured, and eventually suffered relegation.
Joseph will now have to return to Leeds with his tail between his legs and work under Farke, a coach who burned his bridges with last summer.
The Spaniard may not be able to leave in the summer as his knee injury is expected to keep him out for months.
What will Daniel Farke do?
The Leeds manager was not impressed after the forward refused to join pre-season training last summer. However, he will now have to deal with Joseph’s return.
With the Spaniard now injured, Leeds will have to oversee his recovery and rehabilitation over the summer and find a solution for his future.
He is unlikely to be fit before the end of the transfer window, so Farke is potentially staring at reintegrating him to the squad at some point next season.
The Leeds boss welcomed Jack Harrison back into the fold last year and may have to do the same with Joseph if the striker shows the willingness to fight hard.
Poor reporting. Unnecessary repetition and the “tail between his legs” comment is classless.