Leeds early team news v Millwall – Farke shares update on ‘outstanding’ Tanaka
Leeds United head into Wednesday’s Championship meeting with Millwall off the back of their first league defeat since November.
Daniel Farke’s side suffered a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth on Sunday as Colby Bishop’s second-half goal proved decisive at Fratton Park, inflicting only a fourth league defeat of the season for the Peacocks.
One of those previous three defeats – the last of which came against Blackburn at Ewood Park on 30 November – was against Millwall, suffering another 1-0 loss thanks to Japhet Tanganga’s header.
Millwall have also beaten the Whites already at Elland Road this season, triumphing 2-0 over a much-changed Leeds side in the FA Cup fourth round, and will be confident they can match that in the league.
Daniel Farke provides Ao Tanaka update ahead of Leeds v Millwall
With little over 24 hours having passed since the full-time whistle at Fratton Park on Sunday, Farke fronted the Leeds media with an update ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Millwall at Elland Road.
| Portsmouth | Statistic | Leeds United |
| 1 | Goals | 0 |
| 0.66 | xG | 2.36 |
| 3 / 13 | Shots on target | 4 / 13 |
| 43 per cent | Possession | 57 per cent |
| 7 | Corners | 6 |
In comments shared by club on X, Farke said: “There were a one or two knocks and a few bruises, but nothing I’m majorly concerned about, so I hope to have at least the same amount of players available [that] I had for the last game.
“It will be more or less the same squad – when I speak about my whole midfield after the injury of Ethan Ampadu; we have three players more or less for the midfield positions available.
“One of which is Ao Tanaka, who is playing his first season in English football, his first season where there are 46 games. He is outstanding for us, and of course he wanted to be outstanding yesterday – he didn’t have his best day.”
🎙️ The boss sits down with the media ahead of our clash against Millwall on Wednesday night https://t.co/08FSfM5uo2
— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 10, 2025
Leeds United need response from Ao Tanaka v Millwall
While Farke also highlighted the need for Ilia Gruev to bounce back from a disappointing display of his own against Portsmouth, his first focus was ensuring Tanaka gets back to his best as soon as possible.
Japanese international Tanaka has been a metronome in midfield for Leeds this season and has found the net against Hull, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United – big goals in big matches for Leeds.
Farke needs a similar performance and output from the 26-year-old against Millwall, another one of United’s historical rivals in the Championship, if Leeds are to address their current nadir of results.
Although no wins in two is hardly panic stations – even in LS11 – the Whites’ current run of one point from six available is their worst two-game return of the campaign, with a defeat never following a draw.
However, given they’ve bounced back to win at least two straight matches from their three previous defeats this term, Farke will be confident that his side can return to winning ways on Wednesday.