Daniel Farke reveals pre-game Leeds United concern and Elland Road role as Whites rout Norwich City — YEP 16/5/24

By Graham Smyth

Leeds United’s Elland Road salvo blew away Norwich City and all of Daniel Farke’s pre-game concerns as the Whites reached the Wembley play-off final.

Leeds abandoned the more pragmatic approach that earned a 0-0 first leg draw and went for the visitors’ throats from the outset en route to a 4-0 victory. Ilia Gruev’s clever free-kick and Joel Piroe’s cushioned header, from a perfect Willy Gnonto cross, put Leeds firmly in control inside 20 minutes. And though Illan Meslier needed to make a superb stop from a clean-through Josh Sargent, the result was never again in doubt. Georginio Rutter added a third before the break and the onslaught continued in the second half, even if Angus Gunn was beaten once more. Crysencio Summerville got the fourth to complete an utterly dominant performance.

What Leeds produced left Farke purring, but there was a note of relief from the German too. “One of our most complex performances during the whole season today,” he said. “So creative in order to create so many clear cut chances. Should have scored many more but total control apart from one scene. I'm happy with the clean sheet. It was important to return back to our best defensive behaviour at Carrow Road, we transported it to this game. We took the next step to be good on the ball and create chances. Although we were so early 2-0 up they tried everything to change the running of the game, we had to be switched on in each and every moment. Many compliments to my side, also to my young side tonight. I was a bit concerned, the pressure was a bit on us here at Elland Road after the first game and due to the first season we had. We had to play without Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk, Patrick Bamford, Sam Byram. Daniel James and Connor Roberts not ready to play 90 minutes. I don't know our average age on the pitch or if we could handle the experience and physicality of Norwich. The lads delivered in a perfect way, pretty impressive.”

Central to the victory was the return to form of Rutter, who pulled free of a recent loss of confidence to torment Norwich early on. It was exactly what Farke has been hoping for, for weeks, having continued to back the Frenchman with significant minutes and starts. “I was a bit careful before the game, I had two or three times in the last weeks the feeling in training he was sharp again but the performance in the game was not top level,” said Farke. “He's lost a bit of his confidence but the feeling was overall he's played such a great season. He's always there for the team, tries to work hard, he did his job we wanted to do against the ball at Norwich. I said listen, as long as you are doing the basic stuff to help the team I will always back you. He was a key player for 47 games, it's not like I don't back him for one game. It's key they get more backing and trust to win their confidence and rhythm back. They have carried us this whole season. They need my backing in these moments. Thank God they repaid my performance tonight.”

Elland Road played a full part in the victory too, providing a spectacular backdrop as Leeds entered the stadium and growing only louder as the first half played out the way it did. Farke felt like his team were straining at the leash at times due to the urges of the crowd, but recognised how special the atmosphere was. “This place is second to none,” he said. “How much this place is rocking, once it comes down to the wire, this club is then united like no one else. It's unbelievable. The run in was not the best because of many injuries, didn't have our best shape or best results but to go with this unity into this game is second to none. I'm pretty grateful for this experience. Sometimes it could be a bit dangerous because it's not that easy to play not each and every ball forward, we have to make sure we still keep our cool and not overriding emotions when it's rocking like today. This place is a great help. This is why we all wanted to be a football player, for nights like this. No one can guarantee success, you can be the better side, you can lose a game, but this was nearly a perfect night. It was one of those special nights.”

Leeds United striker Joel Piroe says he and Willy Gnonto had spoken about the move leading up to his Elland Road play-off semi-final goal.

The Whites booked their place in the Championship play-off final on Thursday night with a return to the convincing home displays of earlier in the season to see off Norwich City.

David Wagner's Canaries were no match for Daniel Farke's men, who hit the front through Ilia Gruev's free-kick in the seventh minute, before Joel Piroe doubled Leeds' advantage inside 20 minutes with a well-taken header.

Willy Gnonto's assist for the Dutchman was inch-perfect, his deep cross floated onto Piroe's forehead, who planted the chance beyond goalkeeper Angus Gunn. In the build-up to the goal, Piroe appeared to motion in Gnonto's direction, urging the Italian to send an early cross to the back post, where he was ultimately found.

"We spoke about it a couple of times before the game already," Piroe said. "I'm very happy that he played such a fantastic ball and that I was able to head it in."

The 24-year-old was recalled to the starting line-up having missed out on Farke's XI in the first leg at Carrow Road last weekend, answering critics with a goal and line-leading performance to match.

"I do think with the squad that we have, you need to prove yourself every time because we have a lot of competition within it. I think we have a lot of talented players. And well, especially at this time of the season, you really have to perform well."

Leeds' No. 7 also admitted the squad were 'relieved' to have made the Wembley finale, after missing out on automatic promotion earlier this month.

"We're very happy. And we are obviously, like a little bit relieved that we're going to Wembley, but we also know that the job is not done," Piroe added.

Leeds will discover their opponent on Friday evening when Southampton and West Bromwich Albion meet at St. Mary's Stadium for their semi-final second leg, with the aggregate score locked at nil-nil.