After Saturday’s results, Leeds United sit in 15th in the Premier League after securing a third win of the season against West Ham, but Ao Tanaka knows there is plenty more to do.
Goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon secured a win for Leeds over West Ham at Elland Road, even if Manuel Fernandes netted a late consolation. The win comes off the back of two defeats in a row.
It also ended a run of just one win in seven Premier League games, after securing victory in the opening game of the season against Everton. Leeds are above the required point-a-game curve to stay up.
Leeds are perhaps, over a quarter of the way towards securing Premier League safety when it comes to points. But, Ao Tanaka has delivered his verdict in a four-word post on Instagram after Friday’s win.
Ao Tanaka of Leeds United
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ao Tanaka posts four-word message to Leeds fans on Instagram
]Tanaka was inserted into Daniel Farke’s starting line-up on Friday night, one of four changes made by the Leeds gaffer. Lucas Perri, Jaka Bijol, and Noah Okafor also came into the side to face West Ham on Friday.
The Japan star had not started for Leeds since the 5-0 loss to Arsenal, Leeds’ second Premier League game of the season. A knee injury saw him drop out of the Leeds side, but Tanaka is back in currently.
Taking to Instagram, the former Düsseldorf midfielder told fans that Leeds don’t have “enough” points currently and that the focus is on obtaining more, with Brighton away up next for Farke’s Leeds side.
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Who starts against Brighton – Ao Tanaka or Anton Stach?
The £3.4m signing probably didn’t enjoy his best game in a Leeds shirt on Friday night, but there is no doubt that Leeds’ midfield was a whole lot more energetic than West Ham’s middle of the park.
Ethan Ampadu rode forward with the ball on a few occasions, and Aaronson even ran right through the middle of the pitch before hitting the bar. Farke has a decision to make when Leeds take on Brighton.
Does he stick with the 11 that beat West Ham? Or does he continue to rotate and keep things fresh. One key decision he will have to make is Tanaka or Anton Stach. Stach’s form has dipped in recent weeks.
But Farke said that is because Stach has a broken finger and a rib injury. Given he will have been rested for West Ham and gets another week before Brighton, he could be ready to go when Leeds face Brighton.