Leeds United manager Daniel Farke could be made to look silly by Leicester City
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has claimed that his side’s Championship trip to Leicester City on Friday (3 November) is not a must-win game.
A comment of that sort is nothing unusual at a pre-match press conference, as managers rightly want to take the pressure off their players.
But Farke then went on to suggest that “whatever happens, both clubs have everything in their own hands” [BBC Sport, 1 November].
That is a comment that could make Farke look rather silly if “whatever happens” is a defeat at the King Power Stadium to the league leaders.
It is already looking highly unlikely anybody will come close to catching Leicester this season, given they have made a record-breaking start and show no signs of slowing down.
But to be pipped to automatic promotion by Ipswich Town, the side currently in second, would be extremely tough to take.
Heading into the weekend’s action, Ipswich hold a nine-point lead on United and also have a game in hand to play – so potentially a 12-point gap.
That is far from Leeds having “everything in their own hands”, unless of course finishing in the play-offs is deemed good enough.
Ultimately, finishing first with a record points tally or sixth with 30-or-more points fewer matters little if promotion to the top flight is achieved.
With this group of players, though, Farke will know catching Ipswich has to be the target now, and they cannot afford for the gap to grow wider.
While the Leicester game may not strictly be ‘must win’, it is hugely important the Whites avoid defeat and hope Ipswich slip-up at Birmingham City on Saturday (4 November).
The Championship campaign is a real slog, as Leeds know only too well, but they cannot leave themselves with too much to do.
If the Whites are indeed to keep matters in their own hands, then a statement result is needed in the East Midlands against a dominant Leicester side.
In other Leeds United news, a BBC Sport pundit has predicted who he believes will win the meeting between Leicester and Leeds.