AliousDaniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, has downplayed his team’s chances of advancing to the play-off final, despite securing an away draw against Norwich City in the semi-final’s first leg.
In a conversation with Paddy Davitt, Farke expressed his views.
Despite narrowly missing automatic promotion on the last day, Leeds’ third-place finish grants them the privilege of hosting the second leg at Elland Road, which could prove advantageous.
Adding to their momentum, Leeds managed to hold Norwich to a goalless draw in West Yorkshire, a result that may tilt the balance in their favor before the decisive match on Thursday night.
With the away goals rule not applicable, Norwich is compelled to secure a victory on Thursday through regular play, extra time, or penalties to earn their spot at Wembley.
The victor of this imminent encounter will find themselves a mere 90 minutes from joining the Premier League, and both teams are likely optimistic about their prospects of triumphing in the play-off final.
Leeds boasts a roster of talented players, while Norwich is guided by manager David Wagner, who previously led Huddersfield Town to a Championship play-off final victory in 2017.
Nonetheless, Wagner’s approach has been met with skepticism by some Norwich supporters throughout the season.Conversely, Leeds is in a relatively strong position despite experiencing a dip in form towards the end of the season.
Their overall performance in the 2023/24 season has been commendable, considering their early struggles and recent inconsistencies, positioning them as one of the play-off favorites.
Ahead of the clash with Norwich City, Farke issued a cautionary statement regarding Leeds United’s prospects.
With the memory of the 2019 upset against Derby County still fresh, some Leeds fans might anticipate their team’s progression to the play-off final.
Leeds’ potential adversaries in the final will be either Southampton or West Bromwich Albion, should they emerge victorious on Thursday.
However, Farke remains vigilant to avoid complacency.
When questioned about Leeds’ advantage following the recent draw, Farke remarked, “No. Just consider the Champions League semi-finals.
Norwich City is adept at counter-attacks, and any excessive space offered can be detrimental. The odds are evenly balanced at 50:50.”
Leeds has demonstrated remarkable form at home throughout the season, with the only blemish being two defeats in their final home league matches.
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