Leeds United boss Daniel Farke hasn't shied away from talking about Aston Villa as the two sides prepare to face off in the Premier League this weekend.
Farke knows the task ahead, and he is not pretending otherwise.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke arrives before the match
12 points separate these two clubs in the Premier League table. One is chasing Champions League football, the other is looking nervously over their shoulder at the bottom three.
And yet, when Villa host Leeds at Villa Park this weekend, Farke will not be sending his players out to make up the numbers.
This is a fixture with something at stake for both sides, just for very different reasons.
Villa head into Saturday's clash needing to rediscover their best. Unai Emery's side are third in the table with 50 points, but the month of February has not been entirely comfortable.
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Villa are set to be boosted by the returns of two defenders.
A defeat to Brentford, a draw at Bournemouth, a painful FA Cup exit against Newcastle — all three results have taken the edge off what remains an excellent season.
The 1-0 win over Brighton last week settled nerves somewhat, but dropped points today against a rival lower in the table would be damaging for Champions League ambitions.
With Arsenal and the chasing pack watching on, there is no room for complacency at Villa Park.
Leeds United players huddle before the match
Leeds United players huddle before the match
Leeds arrive in considerably more precarious circumstances — 15th in the table, 30 points from 26 games and without a single away league win since September.
Farke's men travel to Birmingham knowing that their survival bid hinges on turning their form on the road around.
Their squad is not without quality. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a handful all season, winning aerial duels, holding the ball up and dragging defenders into uncomfortable spaces.
Lukas Nmecha offers pace and directness alongside him. The late comeback at Chelsea — where Leeds clawed back a two-goal deficit to earn a point — demonstrated that this group will not capitulate without a fight.
Daniel Farke shares why he's 'jealous' of Aston Villa ahead of Leeds clash
Speaking to the media, Farke made clear that he's no stranger to the almighty task facing his side.
Daniel-Farke
The German also shared that he is 'jealous' of Villa for one key reason.
"They are very effective, very switched on in decisive moments," he said of Villa.
"Says a lot about the individual quality of the players, they step up when it counts with a top finish. Offensive players can score many goals.
"It's easy to get jealous when you look at their individual quality in all positions. Overall a really good group of players, Unai doing a fantastic job. This is why they are in such a good position."
High praise, and there is nothing hollow about it.
Emery has constructed a side with genuine top-four credentials. Morgan Rogers is the standout creative force with eight goals and five assists in the league, Ollie Watkins leads the line with the relentless energy that has made him one of the Premier League's most dangerous forwards, the list goes on.
The squad depth, the tactical discipline, the big-game mentality — it is all there.
Emiliano Martínez returns in goal after Marco Bizot's red card against Newcastle, which steadies the ship at the back. Villa have won their last four meetings against Leeds. The quality gap is real.
For Farke, finding a way to bridge it just long enough to nick something from Villa Park would be one of the most impressive results of this season.
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