Brenden Aaronson issued Daniel Farke advice after what he’s seen at Leeds United
Leeds United need Brenden Aaronson back to his best to help seal promotion, because Daniel Farke will not and should not take him out of the firing line.
Aaronson has continued of late as a starter, but has not quite maintained the end product he showed before the turn of the year, with one goal and no assists in 11 games thus far in 2025.
The USMNT attacking midfielder has pulled the strings at times in this Leeds team and scored some crucial goals, settling back into the side in the Championship after last season’s loan stint in Germany.
Farke makes honest Aaronson admission
Farke has assured he is not concerned about Aaronson’s diminished output in recent matches for Leeds, and has dealt with questions on the matter with honesty but support.
The 24-year-old returned last summer to Thorp Arch from Union Berlin, having only previously represented the Yorkshiremen in the Premier League, and Leeds were at the time clearing out returning loanees.
So it is to Aaronson’s immense credit that he has taken to the Championship as efficiently as he has, with 10 goal contributions in all.
As the campaign approaches its business end, Farke needs more from Aaronson, including to focus on the “basic stuff”, but action speaks louder than words and the American’s continued presence in the team should provide all the faith he needs from his manager.
“Concentrate on the basic stuff to work for the team,” Farke told the Yorkshire Evening Post (3 March).
“It’s feeling a bit like sometimes he’s concentrating a bit too much about always having the perfect choice and the perfect complicated pass, because he wants to make things happen.
“To give him the message, come on, ease up, keep it simple and make sure that we keep the ball and don’t always play the most complicated pass, just a bit more physical in order to keep the ball and then the end products, goals will come back.”
Leeds United blessed with forward options
Aaronson has probably needed these carefully considered public comments from Farke to inspire him.
The first-choice number 10 at Elland Road knows the options his manager has to replace him at Leeds United should he be found wanting.
It is noticeable in recent games that Aaronson has been substituted more frequently than before Christmas, when he was. delivering goals and assists more regularly.
Farke has previously brought Joel Piroe back into a creative role, though this would not be the case now given his goalscoring form; Manor Solomon and Wilfried Gnonto can also move centrally, while Mateo Joseph has replaced Aaronson from the bench in the last two games.
| Leeds United – Championship goals 2024-25 | Goals |
| Joel Piroe | 15 |
| Dan James | 10 |
| Brenden Aaronson | 8 |
| Manor Solomon | 7 |
| Wilfried Gnonto / Pascal Struijk | 5 |
Leeds next take on Portsmouth (9 March), against whom Aaronson fired his first goal since returning to England back in August – an equaliser in added time before missing a one-on-one just moments later which would have won the 3-3 contest.
That has been a microcosm of the player’s season – and Farke is now urging one of his most talented performers on his day to tilt the balance towards finding his day more often.