‘I’m A Big Believer’ – Daniel Farke Makes Leeds Admission Ahead Of West Ham Tie
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has revealed that he will field a strong lineup against West Ham United, insisting there is no reason to hold back with over a week until the next fixture and his players needing to stay sharp.
West Ham and Leeds are battling at the bottom of the Premier League, fighting to secure their top-flight status, with Leeds on 33 points and the Irons four adrift.
Farke and his side have a golden opportunity to chase silverware this season and with the FA Cup quarter-final against the Hammers at the London Stadium looming on Sunday, the German boss stressing that a good run counts for little if they do not lift the trophy.
Leeds are experiencing a slight dip in form, having secured just one win in their last five matches, that solitary victory coming in the FA Cup round of 16 against Norwich City, a 3-0 triumph.
Farke emphasised that Premier League survival remains the club’s chief concern, yet he also values the cup competitions, with the first FA Cup quarter-final in two decades offering the opportunity to make history.
The 49-year-old noted that it would be impractical to rest players for long stretches just to guarantee their availability for the Old Trafford clash with Manchester United, eight days away, stressing the need to keep the squad sharp and in rhythm.
He added that he plans to field a strong starting lineup against the Hammers, but any player showing signs of injury or fatigue will be rested to avoid unnecessary risk.
The German boss said at a press conference (10:04): “Yes, of course, Premier League is our bread and butter and, of course, the highest priority, but I’m a big believer in the cup competitions, and it’s the first time, since I think over two decades, that we are in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, and we know that we all have the chance to write a bit more history for this club.
“On the other hand, it also makes no sense just to put the players for three weeks into cotton wool, just to have them available or not injured then for the next game on a Monday night away at Manchester United.
“It doesn’t work in this way, so they need to stay in the rhythm; they need to stay sharp, and for that, we just have the next league game eight days later.
“For that, it makes no sense to rest too many players.
“I want to go with a strong starting lineup without doing anything stupid.
“If I get the feeling someone is a risk due to some physical problems or whatever, we won’t risk it, but apart from this, I want to go with a strong starting lineup.”
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain mired in the relegation zone, with their next league outing scheduled three days earlier than Leeds on 10th April, leaving it uncertain whether they will take a cautious approach or field a strong lineup, as Farke has confirmed he will.
Leeds, therefore, will be confident of their chances, with just a single victory standing between themselves and a showdown at Wembley.
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