'Over-emotional' - Daniel Farke reveals Leeds United mentality before Norwich reunion as niceties postponed — YEP 8/5/24
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says there will be 'no
time' to reunite with former colleagues and Norwich City figures when the
Whites visit Carrow Road this weekend.
The Leeds boss is single-minded in his approach, insisting
he must devote all available time, energy and resource to his current employer
in order to deliver the ultimate goal of promotion back to the Premier League.
Leeds' opening play-off semi-final leg takes Farke back to
his old stomping ground, where he won two promotions to the top flight as
champions of the second tier.
Incidentally, Farke's two title-winning Norwich sides won 94
and 97 points in 2019 and 2021, tallies that would not have been enough for
first place in 2023/24, while their initial 94-point haul would have left the
team in third place this season, where Leeds eventually settled on 90.
He acknowledges returning to the site of his former success
is always a 'bit special' but says he will park any such emotions in order to
give Leeds the best chance of victory over the two legs.
"It's a bit special. My first return back to Carrow
Road was quite emotional, the second game it felt a bit like business as
normal. I will always be grateful to this club for special memories. My only
focus right now, it feels like this team is the third best team, we deserve to
reward ourselves with promotion. They deserve it, the fans, the club deserves
it.
Often, managers returning to their former clubs are seen to
fraternise with members of staff and players they have worked alongside
previously. Farke, though, will arrive at Carrow Road in an official Leeds
United capacity; he says in relentless pursuit of a win.
"There won't be time to be over-emotional or say hello
to some people. We know it's difficult, they had a really good run in, some
really good results. It will be a tight match, they have many players who have
experienced promotion. They can play pragmatical.
"This club needs all my energy and focus and effort to
make sure we're successful," Farke added following Leeds' defeat by
Southampton at Elland Road last weekend.
