Daniel Farke responds to claims Leeds should be Championship promotion favourites
Leeds are many bookmakers' favourites to win the Championship after they were narrowly beaten by Southampton in May's play-off final at Wembley
by David Anderson · The MirrorDaniel Farke claims it is “unfair” to label Leeds as promotion favourites after the turmoil of the summer.
Leeds lost star players Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville after missing out on promotion and Farke only scrambled in replacements before the transfer window closed. Leeds have won four of their last six Championship games ahead of Friday's clash with leaders Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and Farke says his fifth-placed side can’t be seen as the favourites.
“I think after so many changes and also changes in key positions for us and bringing in some really young lads, it would be unfair to put the burden of being the big favourite in this league on their shoulders,” said the Leeds boss.
“We have a good side. We have a side who is capable of achieving something. We have potential and a good group, and I believe in this group. I think once we work with this group, we can develop them.
“We can be right there in the mix and this is why I came here. I want to be there in the mix and I want to win promotion with this club back to the Premier League. But it would be unfair to give us a label as a big favourite.
“When you have just more or less experienced, proved products and finished products, then you can speak about it and say ‘OK, we have to win each and every game’. It would be unfair to do that to this group.
“To label us as a favourite for promotion is too far. We’re on a good path, we’re a good side and we can achieve something this season.”
Farke says the Championship is still in its “warm-up lap” because it is so long with 46 games, but he still respects Sunderland’s fine start ahead of Leeds’ third game in six games. “They’ve done pretty, pretty well so far,” said the German.
“It’s more or less still the warm-up lap for the Championship because there are so many games. But it’s pretty important now because each and every game counts. Even in these early stages, you have to win as many points as possible and they have won many, many points so far.
“They’ve won each and every home game so we know they’re in really good shape. They have good, good players, they’re strong on the counter-attack. They’re strong in all the offensive positions and they have players who can score goals.
“They are a really dangerous side and we’re full of respect for their work. But we also know we’re in good, good shape and we want to make sure we’re ready to go again.”
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