Daniel Farke reveals which Leeds United man epitomises ‘side before self’ with dressing room tale - YEP 23/9/23
Daniel Farke singled out Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell for his mentality despite the young defender remaining an unused sub during the Whites’ 3-0 win over Watford.
By Joe Donnohue
Elland Road was in jubilant mood at full-time on Saturday
afternoon as Leeds saw off a sorry Watford side by three goals to nil. A
purring second half display from Leeds’ attack sent the Whites surging up the
table as they made it six games unbeaten under their German manager.
Despite several players in Farke’s starting line-up
deserving of praise, the Leeds boss singled out unused substitute Cresswell
during his post-match press conference, commending his attitude and team-first
mentality.
Cresswell signed a new contract at Elland Road this summer
but has so far found his involvement limited under Farke.
"I don’t praise just the players who were on the pitch
today, our centre-backs, but it’s also good that we have players like Charlie
Cresswell for example. He makes sure that he trains each and every training
session with a top class performance and top class mentality and he holds the
pressure high because the likes of Pascal [Struijk] or Joe [Rodon] or today
Liam [Cooper], they know, ‘Ok, we can’t afford to play with two per cent less
concentration otherwise there is a top class player [waiting],’” the
46-year-old said.
"I sing the praises for Pascal or Liam, [but] if I had
to spotlight one player I would definitely go for Charlie Cresswell because he
also wants to play each and every game. It was tough for him to accept that he
wasn’t even in the gameday squad for the last game or he wasn’t starting today,
although he would have also deserved that.
Cresswell has not featured for Leeds since the Carabao Cup
Second Round defeat on penalties to Salford City last month, missing out
entirely on Farke’s matchday squad for the midweek draw with Hull City.
Due to Joe Rodon’s suspension, he returned to the
substitutes’ bench as Watford visited Elland Road, but was restricted to a
watching brief.
"To make sure that the players who are not playing each
game, make sure they train with commitment, with being there, with top class
mentality, with good personality, this is more to be praised and I’m pretty
pleased that we have this depth in the squad, in terms of quality but also in
terms of mentality to think more about the side than the self.
"Charlie was also singing with the lads in the dressing
room and celebrating and this is exactly the mentality. If I had to highlight
one player today it would be Charlie Cresswell because this behaviour is
crucial if you want to win something.”
