The Leeds United goalkeeper has not been the upgrade many had hoped he would be after his summer arrival
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
18:30, 17 Jan 2026
Lucas Perri has been dropped
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Lucas Perri has been dropped(Image: Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Daniel Farke says he felt he needed to take Lucas Perri out of the spotlight after sensing the goalkeeper had a "weight on his shoulders".
Farke had publicly criticised his summer signing for mistakes, namely for the equaliser against Manchester United and the winner in the heart-breaking defeat to Newcastle United. Other elements of his game have come into question too, such as his distribution.
Perri has not been the upgrade many fans had wanted in the summer and Karl Darlow walking away with a clean sheet against Fulham on Saturday, albeit without being tested too much, only strengthens his case to become the new number one.
Asked after full-time why he had changed the goalkeeper, Farke explained: "It's always a bit of a tricky situation, and I have so much respect for Lucas. And [it has been] a difficult season for him because he came in relatively late in pre-season, was injured, played in a few games, then was injured.
"But right now, we are also deep in the Premier League season. Have played more than 20 games, and on this level, especially as a promoted side, you need also a goalkeeper who is there with top performances. Otherwise you can't stay in the league.
"We simply got the feeling that, yeah, and in the last weeks he has perhaps not delivered performance wise what we were expecting on this level. There's always pressure, and we have, with Karl, a very reliable, solid goalkeeper who was fantastic for us last season.
"And whenever Lucas was not available, he played really solid. And for that, we also got the feeling, so we need to take Lucas a bit out of the spotlight."
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Farke added of Perri: "He is a really thoughtful and intelligent, smart guy, but also the pressure - it felt just a little bit like a weight on his shoulders.
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"We wanted to take him out of the spotlight and then give him also the chance right now, like in training, to work to his best and to achieve his best possible level again.
"Because, sadly, he wasn't able to show this in the last weeks. And we trust Karl, and for that, he got the chance today.
"Of course, you can't predict that you would return then with a clean sheet back into the dressing room, but he fully deserves also, fantastic guy."