Farke has ‘better Leeds team than Bielsa’, duo tipped for Premier League stardom
Daniel Farke boasts a superior Leeds United side to that of 2020 which secured Marcelo Bielsa promotion, according to Neil Moxley.
Moxley claimed in The Sunday People (9 February, page 48) that the German has a host of players at his disposal who would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League.
Farke’s side are attempting to return to the top table at the second time of asking, looking unstoppable in the Championship despite Saturday’s home defeat at the hands of Millwall in the FA Cup fourth round (8 February).
Farke has a ‘better team’ than Bielsa
Moxley has given his view with conviction that Leeds United have a better squad under Farke to their roster with Bielsa five seasons ago.
Key-performing duo Ao Tanaka and Manor Solomon have also been identified as two players who would “truly thrive” representing Leeds in the Premier League.
Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu are another pair who received plaudits worthy of top-flight regulars, with Leeds out of league action over the weekend but remaining top of the Championship table via a two-point gap.
The Whites instead saw their fixture with Coventry City brought forward to midweek to accommodate both sides’ FA Cup ties.
Farke’s team have been a force of nature in large spells this season, particularly on the attack, having averaged two goals per game in the league with 12 more goals than the next-best performing side.
Leeds’ defensive record is inferior only to that of Burnley, conceding 19 goals in 31 games as both ends of Farke’s Elland Road spine receive credit.
Leeds United must get over the line this time around
While Leeds fans would have been underwhelmed by Saturday’s cup exit, there is at least a feeling that the priority of the league can once again take pride of place.
Farke, as expected, rotated his team for the visit of Millwall who took full advantage, but in truth there was still plenty of talent on display who will now be finding it more difficult to carve out opportunities for regular minutes.
While Leeds have a compact squad – it was the smallest first-team list in the Championship heading out of last summer’s transfer window – they maintain good depth and plenty of quality on the bench which would start in the bulk of the rest of the division.
Bielsa struck an unbreakable chord with the Elland Road faithful for the exciting performances and charisma with which his side played – not to mention the levels they aspired to on a daily basis in training, on which former players regularly reflect.
Farke may not have the emotional impact of his Argentine predecessor, but knows he has the chance to enter folklore in West Yorkshire by going one better than the ultimate heartache of last campaign.