Daniel Farke refuses to make Leeds United transfer comparison and holds back on criticism - YEP 2/9/23
Daniel Farke has refused to criticise any of Leeds United summer departures, including deadline day escapee Luis Sinisterra.
By Graham Smyth
According to the Whites boss the club did all they could to
try and keep the Colombian winger but had to accept the contractual
complexities involved and agree a loan deal with Bournemouth.
Sinisterra's exit was confirmed after the 11pm deadline on
Friday night as Leeds and the Cherries came to terms on a swap that brought
Jaidon Anthony the other way.
Farke called the loss of a player who could have dominated
in the Championship a 'tough reality' but one Leeds had to live with.
"I'm always open and honest and I praised him since my
arrival," said Farke.
"We spoke about him being an outstanding dominating
player on this level. We tried everything in order to keep him but his
contractual situation was complicated and in the end sometimes you have to
accept a tough reality. He went this way and is at Bournemouth right now. We
have to accept such a tough reality and adapt to it."
A number of the summer exits at Elland Road were expected or
even welcomed by the club but Sinisterra followed in the footsteps of a number
of players who Leeds wanted to keep.
Max Wober, Jack Harrison and Tyler Adams all made it clear
that they wished to depart, although they at least did so with time to spare in
the transfer window. Sinisterra trained at Thorp Arch on Friday before his move
began to develop ahead of the late-night deadline.
Farke was in no mood to disparage those who left but
admitted he did not envisage things panning out quite as they have.
"It's not my style [to criticise them]," he said.
"We spoke about a few players, great lads with really
good quality. I wouldn't have predicted eight weeks that the squad would look
like this and I'm pretty happy with my squad. I'm experienced enough to accept
the reality and work with what we've got. There's no feeling sorry for some
losses. The players here get my full attention and backing. We try to get the
best from our squad right now."
What softened the blow of Sinisterra's loss, to some degree
at least, was the arrival of Anthony, who boasts Championship and Premier
League experience. However he is not, Farke pointed out, a like-for-like
replacement.
"I have to praise the key people in our club, sometimes
when you lose such a crucial player with a few hours to go you can feel sorry
for yourself," he said.
"We tried to find the best possible replacement for
him. In Jaidon Anthony he's a proven Championship player, many good
performances for Bournemouth. He has started the first games on Premier League
level and played many games. He's desperate to be here, he's still at an age
where he can improve. You can't compare them. He's still young. Luis Sinisterra
is a proven international player. Jaidon is in, we're all happy."
With five games of the Championship game gone and Leeds in
15th on six points, Farke finally knows the squad he will have to work with
until January at least.
He's unconcerned about where they find themselves now,
thanks to his past experience, and hopeful of better things to come.
"It will be such a long season," he said.
"With Norwich the first time we were promoted it was a
club record, over 90 points. After the same games [as now] we had fewer points
than [Leeds] have. Pukki was praised as an unbelievable goalscorer, he was
there with zero goals at this point. You don't have to be where you want to be
after five or 10 game days, it's where you are after 46. We have a proper group
and something to build on. I'm quite sure we'll find some times when it's
easier to find the back of the net."