Following on from being dismantled by Southampton on the road on Saturday, Leeds United have a chance to get back to winning ways when they welcome QPR to Elland Road on Wednesday.
Looking back on the Southampton game, Leeds manager Daniel Farke had this to say:
“I want my squad to feel this disappointment. You need to feel it. There’s no replacement for the winning feeling after a game. But in analysing the game, stay objective. After several weeks of really good performances, sometimes you accept it’s football.”
Daniel Farke’s side were on a good run of form going into that Southampton game but produced their worst performance of the season so far against a resurgent Saints side. This left some supporters to question Farke’s team selection when it came to playing Liam Cooper instead of Joe Rodon who was available to play after returning from suspension.
Farke insisted he is happy with his options at centre back but acknowledged it was not Cooper’s best performance on Saturday.
“It was not his best day but I’m really happy with Liam. That doesn’t mean he plays each and every second.”
When speaking about Joe Rodon, Farke mentioned how happy he is with the way Rodon has “settled in”.
“With Joe, I think he’s settled in in unbelievably because he had to play the first games without a proper pre-season. I think he has done fantastic so far, we have had many clean sheets with him.
Yes also a few games where we have conceded, for example at Ipswich, he was definitely there with good performances but has not reached his perfect level, I think there’s much more to come from him, much more potential.”
QPR are currently sat in the relegation zone going into Wednesday’s game, winning just one game from their previous six outings.
Despite this Farke thinks QPR have a better squad than what their current league position reflects and reiterated his side must be “brutal” in the final third.
“I expect they’re a team who are difficult to play against. That’s why they’ve conceded just one goal in their last three away games. What will be crucial is that we’re effective in finishing positions.”