Isaac Schmidt caught in rut at Leeds United after Daniel Farke comments
Daniel Farke is running out of excuses when it comes to Isaac Schmidt’s lack of game time at Leeds United this season.
Speaking ahead of facing Hull City on 4 January, Farke explained why Schmidt wasn’t brought off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn on New Year’s Day, despite ideal circumstances to do so.
Farke withdrew Sam Byram for the fit-again Max Wober and the injured Jayden Bogle for Ethan Ampadu and tried to explain his decision by emphasising that a change of system didn’t suit Schmidt.
In quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post (2 January), Farke said: “My door is always open, once a player comes he always gets an honest answer.
“Sometimes you’re proactive in order to explain if you feel there is a bit to explain.
“I was already thinking to change to a three-man formation. And in this difficult game, I wanted to have my captain on the pitch and then we had a chance to play with more or less three centre-backs.”
Daniel Farke ignoring what Isaac Schmidt can offer Leeds United
Although Farke switching to a back three against a stubborn Blackburn side did eventually yield their short-lived opener through Pascal Struijk’s penalty, Schmidt could have still had a part to play.
Regardless of the formation United operate under Farke, the playing style often remains by and large the same, and the introductions of Wober and Ampadu mean they had four centre-back options, not two.
Schmidt, equally capable of operating as a full-back on either side as well as further forward, was signed from St. Gallen for his versatility, yet this attribute seems to be lost on Farke as an option.
The 25-year-old, having already played for St. Gallen this season before being signed by the Peacocks in August, can’t play for a third club this season, making an early exit in January look highly unlikely.
Farke has been much more open to squad rotation this season than he was in United’s unsuccessful promotion charge last term, and in the tightest of games, it could be time to finally make use of Schmidt.
In other Leeds news, Dean Saunders was delighted with one star’s form after coming back from disappointment on international duty.
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