Man City 3 Leeds United 2: Lee Sobot's Video Verdict
The Leeds United boss has explained his team selection ahead of this evening’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea.
Daniel Farke admits it would have been ‘mad’ not to carry the momentum through from last weekend’s second-half performance at Manchester City after naming a back-three against Chelsea.
Leeds welcome Chelsea to Elland Road this evening for what is a huge Premier League clash under the lights at Elland Road. The Whites could climb out of the relegation zone with a point while three would pull them as high as 16th, depending on results elsewhere.
Farke’s switch to a back three at City last weekend sparked a spirited second-half comeback and whether he’d stick with the new formation has been a major talking point this week. And in confirming his starting line-up for Chelsea this evening, the German revealed his decision.
Jaka Bijol returned to the starting line-up alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, with Gabriel Gudmundsson back in at left wing-back. Anton Stach also returned, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin partnering Lukas Nmecha up top, as was the case when Leeds turned things around at City.
“I’m not married to base formations, I’m addicted to principles,” Farke told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. “We never changed too much but it's important also to be flexible. Last season it was not necessary to change too much because we nearly won each and every game but as a promoted side you have to be flexible, surprise the opponent and adapt a bit to their strengths.
“Especially after a terrific second-half at Man City it would be mad not to take the momentum and confidence. I didn’t want to change too much today but we are prepared for both [formations], we can play both, we can also change during the game.”
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Leeds’ spirited comeback at City eventually counted for nothing in terms of points after Phil Foden’s winner, and at times it has felt like competitive performances have not brought results. Farke is keen to see his side perform well again this evening but admits it needs to translate to the scoreboard.
“Apart from Arsenal away we’ve had our chances in each and every game,” the Whites boss added. “The effectiveness was sometimes missing, so the quality to put the ball over the line or to be there with a tackle or the perfect save.
“We are not playing for compliments or warm words, we want to win points so we want to take the same performance level from Man City and our last home game against Aston Villa, but also translate this into points.”
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