Daniel Farke blamed Leeds United’s failure to do the basics right in the first 20 minutes in a humbling 4-0 defeat at QPR but he isn’t giving up on the automatic play-off race yet.
It was the worst conceivable time for Farke to witness his Leeds team produce their poorest performance of the year. Before the half was halfway over, QPR jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to some careless play both on and off the ball. Farke tried everything to alter the game’s direction, but in the last 17 minutes, two goals sealed the heartbreaking loss. As the players approached full time, a half-empty away end demanded answers from Farke and the team.
The outcome means that Ipswich Town can overtake the Whites if they defeat Hull City tomorrow. They also have a match against Coventry City on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Leicester, the current leaders, are suddenly unstoppable.
“First of all I think it’s important to say congratulations to QPR for a well deserved win and Leicester for promotion,” said Farke. “Decisive were the first 20 minutes. I like to speak quite often about tactical approach, what is important from our principles, passing quality, whatever. In the first 20 minutes we didn’t do the basics and this means to win duels, to be there with aggression, to invest in movements. We didn’t show it enough and QPR used it to be 2-0 up. We woke up, started to play our game, but then obviously a side fighting for each and every point, then it’s of course difficult. They concentrated on being compact, defending really well. We were chasing the first goal to come back, then they scored out of two set-pieces and the game was done and we had to concentrate on not conceding any more.”
For the second time in a week Farke detected nerves among his players and he felt the quick turnaround after Monday’s win at Middlesbrough played a part too. He plans to analyse the game with the squad on Saturday at Thorp Arch but by the start of next week believes Leeds must move on to focus on their final outing against Southampton. Though Ipswich could have clinched second place by the time Leeds play again, Farke is not prepared to start speaking about the play-offs.
“I would have loved to take the pressure away with already being promoted,” he said. “Right now it’s not in our hands, we have to be honest. The race is not over. Congratulations to Leicester, promoted, well deserved, but nothing is over with Ipswich. If they win the next two I’m the first one to congratulate them but if they don’t we have a lot to play for on the last game day. We’re in the chasing role since game day one and we never give up until it’s done. We have the second bullet [the play-offs] and perhaps it’s a bit more realistic to speak about but I’m far from giving up. As long as we have a chance we try everything, even if it’s on the last game day. If this is not possible, then we go for the second bullet.”
Farke was without first-choice number 9 Patrick Bamford for the game at Loftus Road, a bruised knee proving enough to keep the striker out of the squad altogether. “Due to the quick turnaround and the situation, he’s got a bruise that is still a bit swollen,” said Farke. “Probably in two or three days would be ready to go again. We tried everything. We travelled with one player more, treated him this morning and over the day. It was too painful and he couldn’t sprint. It makes no sense. Four days ago everyone wants to send him to retirement or whatever, right now he’s our only chance to win games. We didn’t lose just because of Patrick Bamford or win the last game because of him. You know how I rate him. Sadly today there was no chance. He missed training yesterday, normally I don’t travel with a player who missed the last session before game day. It was simply not possible.”
