FootballTalk Podcast 29.10.25
Daniel Farke has told his Leeds United players not to be too hard on themselves after Anton Stach became the second midfielder in quick succession to open up about his shortcomings.
The Whites suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, and with an important game at Nottingham Forest to round off the latest block of matches, Farke wants his players in the right frame of mind.
In an interview in his homeland, German Stach admitted it was the right time to take him out of the firing line after recent injuries left him mentally unable to deal with the intensity of the Premier League.
FLAGGING: Anton Stach has admitted it was the right time to come out of the Leeds United starting XI (Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)placeholder image
FLAGGING: Anton Stach has admitted it was the right time to come out of the Leeds United starting XI (Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
“After breaking my little finger, I also broke a rib against Tottenham," he told Kicker magazine. "I initially tried to keep playing but you definitely feel an injury like that.
“It was mostly a mental thing, because I automatically held back in challenges. The coaching staff still wanted me on the bench.
“The break did me good, and I got better day by day. Now I need a few training sessions to get used to the intensity again."
Sunday's game away to team in the relegation zone and without a Premier League win under their last two managers – Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche – would be important at the best of times, but the fact Leeds return from November's international break to consecutive matches against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and English champions Liverpool raises the stakes further.
DEFENCE: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke (second from right) has told Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka (far right) not to be too hard on himself (Image: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
DEFENCE: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke (second from right) has told Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka (far right) not to be too hard on himself (Image: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
It is why manager Farke had mixed feelings when Tanaka told reporters after the West Ham game: "I have to improve a lot. I'm not good enough at the moment."
"I think most people think he's done a pretty good job," responded Farke. "I like it if someone is really humble and self-critical and puts his demands really high because normally in this business it's more like the other way.
"But he doesn't have to say this. There's no reason to be too self-critical because Ao was fantastic for us last season.
"Of course it was the Championship and of course it's the first time in his career that he plays in the top division (in Germany, he played for Fortuna Dusseldorf in Bundesliga 2) and he has a point to prove there.
"But I have to say, he had a fantastic pre-season against really strong opponents, he had a really good start to the season in the Everton game and then sadly he had an injury."I'm quite happy that I have him back. I also like that he expects more from himself but he doesn't have to be too self-critical."
As Stach is discovering, Leeds players need a high level of fitness this season.
“Our team is very fit, and the pre-season was correspondingly tough," he said. "It suits us well.
“We have a lot of quality on the ball. We’re implementing it better and better. We’re realising we can absolutely compete in this league."