Leeds United boss Daniel Farke speaks to Sky Sports on the pressure at the club following recent setbacks in the Premier League.
He downplayed the current pressure after two recent Premier League defeats, insisting this is far from the toughest period he’s faced while in charge.
The real pressure was when he arrived post-relegation, with the club unstable, in chaos, with four coaches in a short period, massive squad uncertainty, forced sales due to FFP, and the need to completely rebuild playing style and values.
Farke says the expectation at Leeds is extreme, facing sack calls while in the Championship, and now after every loss now people panic about relegation.
He remains calm and backs his players fully, with a reminder that two weeks ago, after beating West Ham, fans thought survival was already secured and were talking about Europe. Now, after two tight away defeats, people are panicking again.
“After we beat West Ham, people said survival was confirmed and now everyone is panicking about relegation”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke on the pressure at the club after four defeats in their last five games ⚪ pic.twitter.com/T1brJjR3Zs
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 17, 2025
Interviewer: “Is this the first time, or is this the hardest time, would you say, as Leeds manager? First time you’ve had to think about any pressure at all, or does it never enter your mind?”
Farke: “No, hardest time was when I walked in and we were just relegated there. The club was more or less in tears, insecurity, conflicts, big pressure.
“It was about like to steady the ship first and to build more or less also a new way, a new approach to play, new values to play.
“The team I overtook had in a short period of time four different coaches, then some other guys. All different type of coaches, different approaches.
“It’s difficult also for the players, so we needed to have a new start and build some patterns and build some principles, how we want to work, our values, how we want to play.
“Need to have a squad because once I started I was not sure who would be there on the 1st of September. Because of the contract situation, it was important that we also develop some players because due to the financial fair play situation we were under big pressure also to sell many important players.
“We need to develop players like Chris Summerville, like Georginio Rutter, like Archie Gray, Glenn Kamara, also a bit older, but also we need to create values. This was real pressure.
“Yes, and performance-wise, once you sign a contract as a manager for Leeds United, you have to be ready for it, because after each loss, asking for a second manager, what happens always when you sign a contract for Leeds United?
“If you take it personal or you dwell under this pressure, then you have no chance to be successful here. So the Championship level was nearly after each draw that it was the end of the world and the manager was not good enough.
“You have to stay calm, you have to stay cool and you have to keep going and working to your believings.
“The outcome was that we are back in the promised land and played the best season in the history of the club last season with 100 points and winning the title.
“Of course, I don’t expect that we again will finish with 100 points and finish the title.
“Our title would be survival, something that no other team has managed to do as a newly promoted side in the last few years.
“For that, we know it’s a long road and you have to stay cool and there will be setbacks and there will be doubts and something like this.
“But I totally back my players, I believe in my players, I believe in this club and I believe that we can be the first team in this club who can really establish this club back in the top flight.
“It’s important once you work for such an emotional club and such a passionate fan base and everyone goes crazy.
“Two weeks ago, we had a very important, fantastic home win against West Ham and everyone was already, OK, listen, survival is confirmed. Ten points after nine games already, not one time in the history a team is relegated. The statistic right now, let’s worry about Europe. This is Leeds United.
“Two weeks later, two away games, difficult away games. Brighton, Nottingham also side, not the best start, but they qualified for Europe last season, have spent an unbelievable amount of money in the summer.
“Two tight losses and not our best performance. Everyone is panicking about relegation.”
Daniel Farke gives response to anger from Leeds fans after defeat at Nottingham Forest
Interviewer: “It’s the start of a tricky run of fixes for you, isn’t it, when you look at you playing against the so-called biggest teams in the league?”
Farke: “Yes, that’s right. But I also don’t like to interpret too much into the fixture list. You have to play against each and every team two times, one time at home, one time away. It’s for every team the same. And for that, I don’t over-interpret.
“Yes, of course, you could argue that’s perhaps a difficult run of games because we play many of the top teams in a short, short period.
“We know this, but we take game after game. And this means also then perhaps in the run in, we have then perhaps at least on paper, a bit easier games and easier home games. So for that, no complaints about this.
“And if we are at our very best and especially also in home games, we have a chance wherever we go, but also in the home games against whoever we play.
“And for that, we will just concentrate on this next game and want to be back to our very best, yes.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Leeds boss Daniel Farke speaks on the pressure at the club following recent setbacks…
@Yorkshire77: No one said this … he’s constantly either playing up stats or ignoring them. Here’s one for him.. he’s statistically one of the poorest managers in Prem league history. He should maybe stop talking about environmental and past issues and concentrate on the here and now
@MaynardM: If he was as good at coaching our defence to protect the goal as he is at spinning narratives to protect himself, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.
@PButlek: Selective memory, poorly timed PR and gaslighting as usual. Always deflects with the past never honest about the present. Nothing is ever his fault but fans are always too emotional, board don’t back him enough.
@FredgoldMartin: If Leeds get a chasing from from Villa and Man City I’m sure Farke’s job will be in danger, But in reality it’s not getting anything from Burnley and Forest that will be the reason Farke loses his job in the end. #Lufc @apopey @Lufc
@eddieleeds1: He’s talking himself out of a job imo .. he’s losing the fanbase drastically
@_lufccol: Don’t know a single soul that said we were safe after beating West Ham btw
@DannyCannan: Nobody said we was safe after 9 games and 11 points what a ridiculous comment
@Simonjames191: Who said survival was confirmed? We’ve been playing crap for a while now (including the West Ham game)
@leedsnoinfidel: Fuck me he treats us like we are absolute dickheads. Warranted most of us are, but it’s so condescending coming from your manager
@LiamMoo19110227: Nobody said this. It’s his little excuses to never blame himself
@Sam_Webster94: Yeah because every time we play away from home Daniel your tactics get us walloped
@Jackclufc: Find me one person who said that after west ham 🤣
@lufcLee1982: Farke out. As useful as a chocolate fire guard. Worst manager in premier league history. A fraud of a manager. Plays his favorite players like Aaronson. Try’s to integrate tats back into the team. Unable to adapt tactics. Waits until 70 minutes for a reactive substitution
@BielsaAteMyPie: The gaslighting of the fan base continues from Farke. No one said this, at all Daniel. Stop talking, it’s doing you no favours. Just get the team playing more aggressive and with some fucking passion. That’s honestly all we ask for.
@FatBob0_v2: No fucker said Survival was confirmed because we got outplayed by the Hammers in the 2nd half and allowed them to gain confidence to go win their next 2. Such bullshit
@AdamLSXI: Did anybody say this? Looked to me like we’d beat a poor side and they made it look easy for us
@timlufc_mk2: Needs to cut the bull here, not one Leeds fan said that, the board and the inept excuse of a recruitment team have a lot to answer for but Farke is on thin ice too if he continues with his favourites and shite tactics , on the whole though the 49ers are another false dawn.
@KevinFordham: What people were they then. All I see was we was playing well then Farkes shit tactics could have lost us the game. How he’s still in a job in mind boggling
@JackLUFC1919: He thinks 3 minutes of telling everyone how amazing he is and how thick the fans are will get fans back on his side. Interesting strategy
