Daniel Farke warns Willy Gnonto 'no third chance' as 'steel' defeats 'blackmail' - Yorkshire Post 25/8/23
Daniel Farke is pleased Leeds United showed the "steel" to avoid being "blackmailed" in the transfer window, but Willy Gnonto has to take his second chance because there will not be a third.
By Stuart Rayner
Gnonto is available at Ipswich Town on Saturday, along with
Luis Sinisterra. It is an early triumph for Farke's management.
"With Luis there was uncertainty about his contractual
situation," said Farke. "I showed some leadership and said, ‘We need
your quality but as long as this situation is not sorted, it makes no sense (to
play you) because I need 100 per cent focus on training and the games’.
"At the beginning of the week the situation was sorted.
He’s clear in his head and ready to work 100 per cent for this club."
Despite not having a release clause, Gnonto made himself
unavailable for three games. When it was clear Leeds were serious about not
selling despite persistent Everton interest, he backed down.
"He refused more or less to play," said Farke.
"So I had to say, ‘You don't train with the group, we can't let this
situation stretch the group.'
"At the beginning of the week he apologised, he knows
he made a mistake. Willy was asking if he could be involved back in training.
"My decision was to give him a second chance. He has
the chance to impress in training, to earn a spot in the travelling squad and
perhaps even play minutes."
There is a but, alongside some understanding.
"We speak about a 19-year-old boy," stressed
Farke. "We are playing in the Championship and if he has offers from the
Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, a young guy like him is attracted by that.
"What is not acceptable is saying ‘I'm not ready to
play.'
"I can understand why his head was a bit gone but that
doesn't mean we have to accept it. It's important to be strict, to educate our
players and also to send a sign.
"I'm always open also to give such a young lad a second
chance.
"That doesn't mean we just cater for Gnonto or have to
be grateful, it's the other way around. He knows there is no third
chance."
Farke’s words would have meant little without boardroom
support.
"It was important to show some steel and resilience as
a club," he argued. "I’m grateful all our key people, especially
Angus (Kinnear, the chief executive), were brilliant. Sometimes you can be
scared – ‘What if he just plays for the under-21s and we miss a transfer fee?’
"You have to make sure you’re not blackmailed, to be
even stronger.
"If you let a quality player play for one year in the
under-21s it's worth it to send a message to the players but also to the
outside world that no one plays games with Leeds United."
The next test will be how the fans respond to Gnonto.
"You can't just take all the praise, glory and lots of
money then complain about pressure or something like (being booed),"
argued Farke.
"But I'm also quite confident our supporters always
have a good feeling for what they have to do and if a player gives everything
for the club.”
Farke said of Sinisterra: "We definitely need this
quality and we are 100 per cent willing to keep him. (But) tomorrow there could
be a crazy offer from Saudi Arabia.”
