Marcelo Bielsa lost his job at Leeds back in February 2022 following a run of four successive Premier League defeats.
A 4-0 loss against Tottenham at Elland Road was the Argentine’s final game, but there was widespread sympathy for the South American given all he had done for Leeds, and also given the fact he was without Kalvin Phillips for 11 consecutive Premier League matches leading up to his dismissal.
Daniel Farke now has a similar problem on his hands at a delicate time, with Sean Longstaff facing almost two months on the sidelines.
Sean Longstaff injury could speed up the end for Daniel Farke at Leeds United
The German was already struggling to obtain results with six defeats in the last seven games, and the situation has now become even worse as the Leeds No.8 suffers a serious calf injury which is set to rule him out for six weeks.
Longstaff has been a key man for Leeds so far this season following his £12m move from Newcastle in July, so his absence will be a huge blow for Farke ahead of a daunting run of fixtures.
Daniel Farke shares details of Sean Longstaff’s injury
It therefore throws up similarities to the aforementioned injury suffered by Phillips during that 2021/22 campaign, which hardly helped Bielsa alleviate the growing pressure at that time.
The England international was absent from 11th December to 13th March that season, and his injury was a significant factor in Leeds slipping down the table – after all, he had only just been named England Player of the Year in September 2021, which emphasises just how important he was.
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Longstaff is similarly vital to Farke in midfield, so it is not unfathomable to think that the 49-year-old could be gone before the influential playmaker actually returns from his calf injury.
Leeds United could actually turn to Kalvin Phillips himself to partner Sean Longstaff
Longstaff could actually find himself playing with the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ soon.
The Mirror believe Leeds have enquired about Phillips as he aims to leave Manchester City in 2026, but are reliant on the Citizens contributing to his enormous £250,000-a-week salary.
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Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
It would be an odd use of finances – in our view – considering Farke is already struggling to find a spot for Ao Tanaka in midfield, and also given the fact money is tight for Leeds in terms of PSR.
However, if a deal does materialise, it should go some way to improving the mood within the Leeds fanbase seeing as Phillips is a cult hero.
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