Daniel Farke says he will always send “clear messages” to potential signings that Leeds United are always in the “driving seat” when it comes to transfers.
The German has been pretty ruthless in January thus far, sending Djed Spence back to Tottenham after ending his loan spell and allowing Luke Ayling to join Middlesbrough.
With two right-backs departing, there may be a void that Farke looks to fill in January, but he says any player who wants to move to Elland Road will have to acknowledge that they will never be bigger than the club.
“If you send clear messages out that you are in the driving seat and you are not driven [by] players, if you are Leeds United, you decide, not the players or the agents. I think that sends a message out that each and every player wants to play for a club who is strong,” he said in quotes reported by LeedsLive (13 January).
“No top player I know wants to come into a club where he feels he is bigger than the club,” Farke added. “Every player wants to play for a club where everyone knows the club is bigger than you, and to handle everything with style and class, this attracts players.
“When your behaviour is not in the way we want it, then also to be strict at times because these are our values, not like a flag in the wind, to always have the same values.”
“If you send a message out that the player is not in the driving seat, it sends a message to other players that, ‘No, no, we can’t play with Leeds United’,”
“For as long as I am in charge, I will make sure this club is in the driving seat and is on top of all the topics. This club is bigger than each and every player, manager, staff member, so that is definitely a fact and we want to make sure we act exactly this way.”
Love to hear it
What a message this was from Farke and it is one that surely ever Leeds supporter will love to hear and get fully behind.
Leeds could probably do with a few additions just to give themselves a shot in the arm for what promises to be a blockbuster race for promotion in the Championship – even if Leicester Cit probably already have one of the spots sewn up.
But what the club cannot afford is anyone whose ego is bigger than the team, there can be no passengers, and everybody has to be on the same wavelength as Farke that the team and the club come before themselves.
Too often in the past Leeds have had players who have not bought into that ethos and at this stage of the season, when a promotion battle is waging, you just simply cannot afford.
So, kudos to Farke for saying this and sending a warning that if you want to pull on that Leeds jersey you are going to have to earn it and you are going to have to fight to keep it.
