Sheffield United, Leeds United and FA Cup - The YP FootballTalk Podcast
LAST SEASON the City Ground rocked under Nuno Espirito Santo. With the return of Sean Dyche and more pertinently the Nottingham Forest legends on his coaching staff – Steve Stone and Ian Woan – it is getting back to where it should be.
When Ange Postecolglou was getting nowhere fast as Forest manager, a Sunday afternoon by the Trent looked an enticing prospect for Leeds United. Now all of a sudden it is a daunting assignment, at the start of a run of daunting assignments.
Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool straight after the international break will be no picnic either.
Daniel Farke's message to his players before they walk out into Mull of Kintyre is clear: "Enjoy the challenge."
Nobody grows up wanting to be a footballer to play in easy wins against sub-standard opposition. The dreams are of last-minute winners, heroic fightbacks, victories against the odds.
So whilst some fans will understandably fear the worst about the games coming up, Farke has made a point of assembling a squad of players who only see opportunities.
"This his is what I've said more or less in my first meeting when we spoke about Nottingham," says the Leeds manager.
"I told them, 'Listen, you have to enjoy this challenge, this is why you once started to play football.'
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON: Leeds United manager, Daniel Farke. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)placeholder image
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON: Leeds United manager, Daniel Farke. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)
"The best scenario is always a home game, Elland Road, because it's second to none, it's a unique experience and a joy to be allowed to play in front of these home fans.
"But the second-best scenario is a very hostile away ground.
"As a player, I'd rather play when the whole stadium is against you and you can rise to the challenge instead of playing in a stadium where it doesn't matter.
"In these type of games you can show your character and some steel. It's a great challenge.
NEW CHALLENGE: Nottingham Forest's head coach Sean Dyche pictured during Thursday's Europa League match against Sturm Graz. (Image: AP/Darko Bandic)placeholder image
NEW CHALLENGE: Nottingham Forest's head coach Sean Dyche pictured during Thursday's Europa League match against Sturm Graz. (Image: AP/Darko Bandic)
"If you're capable of grinding out a result, this is sometimes one of the best games of the season."
It is why one of his bugbears this season is about being asked questions in November – and September and October, for that matter – about "must-win" games.
"It's gameday 11 and it's the seventh time in a press conference I'm asked if it's a must-win game," he replies politely but wearily.
His problem with "must-win games" is it writes off the rest.
TOUGH DAY: Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson battles for the ball during last week's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion (Image: Steven Paston/PA)placeholder image
TOUGH DAY: Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson battles for the ball during last week's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion (Image: Steven Paston/PA)
"Before the season, you would have said, 'Nottingham is one of the most difficult fixtures because they've qualified for Europe,'" he points out. "Right now, they didn't have perhaps the best start.
"So then to speak about a must-win game, I don't see this.
"Perhaps you're sometimes lucky and you play one of the top sides just after a Champions League game, perhaps they rotate a little bit, and all of a sudden you have a chance.
"Of course I want to win the points. The problem is, Sean Dyche and Nottingham want it as well. They will say, if not a home game against a newly-promoted side, where should we win points?
"Just one team can win it, or perhaps there's a draw.
"For that, it's important that you make sure that you deliver a top performance, and if there is a chance, grab the reward.
"If not, you draw a line and you keep going.
"This is how a marathon – and the Premier League is a marathon – works.
"We won't give one per cent less because we are not motivated, but it's also important that you don't overdo it, and you don't lose your nerve, you don't panic, you stay composed and calm.
"Whatever happens on Sunday, the world will go on, and there's still a chance. This is why I wanted to sign, during this summer, just players who are a good age, between 23 and 30 – not down the hill, not a project.
"If you are a newly-promoted side and you're used to winning football games – every loss was more or less a disaster last season – you can head into the Premier League as motivated as you want and deliver top performances but you will lose games
"And if you dwell on that, and this sucks you down into quicksand, you have no chance to survive.
"It’s not that we want to get used to losing football games – still, if we lose, you have to take it personally and to be embarrassed and be self-critical and speak about what you need to improve.
"But it's also important that a loss or a difficult spell doesn't suck you into quicksand because this is what happens to teams who are relegated. They panic and they lose their confidence. So I wanted to sign characters who know this level, who know you can lose games and be punished when you don't deserve it.
"You have to keep going and show strength and steel in difficult surroundings. This is why we only signed players who had delivered at Premier League level, Bundesliga level, Ligue 1, Serie A, the top leagues.
"It's important we have this mentality and we keep this mentality.
"We want to improve but we are also confident in our good behaviour. I will back my players and the players will back themselves."
So this is not, repeat not, a must-win game. It would still be nice for Leeds, though.