Leeds United
It is already halfway through the Premier League season, but Leeds United have surprised everyone with how they have played. The first half of their campaign was okay, before they almost completely collapsed in the middle of the season.
Nothing was going right, they could not pick up a single point and there was pressure on Daniel Farke to be fired. The 49ers did not pull the trigger and chose to stick with the coach that brought them up from the Championship. It took a disappointing defeat to Manchester City for Farke to figure things out.
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Since the start of December, Leeds have gone on an incredible run, losing just two league matches since the end of the year.
Eddie Gray gives high praise to Leeds United boss
The players have done their part, but Eddie Gray believes that Daniel Farke is the driving force behind this. The Leeds legend says that the German has done well to keep the team fit, which makes the players want to work hard on the pitch every game:
“The thing about the players that Daniel Farke has got is they work very hard,” Gray said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“Midfield players are up and down the pitch, strikers are making great runs off the ball. Defenders are strong.
“One thing about football, if you can’t run then you can’t play. You’ve got to be able to get around the pitch.
“That’s the one thing Daniel has done with the team. They’re all good athletes. They’re good athletes and they’re strong.
“You never see them falter in the last 10-15 minutes, they come on strong in games. And the players know that.
“If you have a high fitness level then you can always change things in the last 20 minutes of a game.”
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Whites can secure their Premier League status
There were many doubts about Leeds United coming into the season, and just before the end of the year, there was the feeling they would get relegated. But they have turned things around and genuinely look like favourites to survive the drop. Teams in an around them are scrambling for stability; Spurs and Nottingham Forest have hired new coaches who have to settle and adapt quickly.
If things play out well for Daniel Farke, he could secure another season in the top flight in the coming weeks. The players will just have to keep doing their best on the pitch every week.