Sources: Leeds change their minds on Daniel Farke sack plan
Daniel Farke has bought himself more time to turn the tide at Leeds United, sources have told Football Insider.
The German has been under significant pressure in recent weeks, as the newly-promoted outfit have slipped into the Premier League relegation zone.
Farke’s position at Leeds has been under threat after their last few results, with several candidates emerging as potential successors to the 49-year-old.
However, there is now an indication that the 49ers are willing to give the man at the helm a little more time to turn things around, after the signs that emerged from the defeat to Manchester City last weekend.
Leeds’ second-half display vs Man City has earned Daniel Farke breathing room
Football Insider recently revealed that Farke had two games to save his job at Leeds, with those assignments being the trip to Manchester City and the home clash with Chelsea.
Sources indicated that the Whites were planning on dismissing the boss if results weren’t favourable from those two encounters, but the performance on Saturday has now altered the mood somewhat.
The West Yorkshire outfit came from 2-0 down to level the game in the second half, and that display of determination is understood to have been enough to afford Farke a little bit of breathing room and reduce the immediate threat of him being sacked.
However, Leeds were still beaten 3-2 thanks to Phil Foden’s stoppage-time winner, and there is still a situation that could see Farke get the boot in the coming weeks.
The board at Elland Road yet could be forced into a change if the team become cut adrift inside the bottom three, which is a scenario that would leave the board with no choice.
Morale is low among Farke’s squad
Leeds players were left at “rock bottom” after their defeat to Aston Villa on 23 November, with the mood thought to be the “lowest it had been all season” after another Elland Road reverse.
That will have taken another hit against City last weekend, with the Whites having now lost six of their last seven in the Premier League.
They have struggled to adapt to the jump in standard in the top flight, but if they are to have any chance of remaining in the division, then they simply must try and lift their spirits.
Saturday’s defeat to City was an indication that they do have what it takes to compete against the best teams in the country, and there were plenty of positive signs despite the unfortunate result in the end.
The players appear to have done enough to save Farke’s job for now, but they will all know that they cannot hit that Villa low again if they are to stay afloat at the end of the campaign.