Graeme Souness says Leeds United must change their approach — Daniel Farke must listen — Leeds Press 22/2/25

by Kris Sanyal

Daniel Farke and his Leeds United players would not want to tempt fate but only a calamitous loss of form could stop them from earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. The Whites are closing in on securing one of the top two spots with some rival managers already anointing them as probable Championship winners. There is some way to go but there is real anticipation of Leeds being back in the Premier League next season, two years after they got relegated. The Whites would want to extend their top-flight stay for a little longer if they get promoted but Graeme Souness has claimed that they need to do one thing to give themselves a chance of survival next season.

Leeds sit at the summit of the Championship table and Farke and his players are focused on facing Sheffield United away from home on Monday night rather than the talk of promotion around the club.

Graeme Souness says Leeds United must change their approach - Daniel Farke must listen

However, it is hard to escape the sense of excitement as Leeds close in on their promised land and even Farke admitted that 20 more points from their remaining 13 games should get the job done.

The talk of promotion has led to speculation over what Leeds would need to do in the summer but there are more pressing concerns about their style of football.

Leeds are aware that they can’t play on the front foot in the Premier League against better teams but Farke is not known for changing his approach under any circumstances.

However, Souness admitted that Leeds need to play a bit differently if they want to survive against the big boys of English football.

Graeme Souness issues Leeds United ‘caveat’

The former Scotland midfielder watched Leeds in action against Sunderland on Monday night and admitted that it was a fantastic experience to watch the Elland Road crowd push the home side to a win.

He admitted that was a ‘proper game’ of football and it was fantastic to see Elland Road bouncing as Leeds pushed towards securing promotion to the Premier League.

However, he stressed that in the Premier League Leeds can’t be this gung-ho and try to play on the front foot. The former midfielder insisted that Leeds need to bring in some pragmatism to his game if they want to survive in the Premier League.

“Leeds has always been a passionate football club, which is what I like, and that’s what made playing there such a great experience and so special”, Souness was quoted as saying by the Daily Record.

“Seeing over 36,000 roaring on their team on Monday, it was a proper game.

“The caveat being, if they get into the Premier League they will have to have a more pragmatic and less cavalier approach to survive with the big boys.”

Will Daniel Farke change? He has to

Farke has religiously stuck to his principles and style of football this season and it has reaped fruits for Leeds as they close in on promotion to the Premier League.

However, his rigidity was a weakness in the Premier League previously when he failed to keep Norwich in the top flight once and was sacked mid-way through the season the second time around.

He is the only manager to lose 15 games on the bounce in the Premier League and a lot of it was down to the fact that he kept playing the attacking style of football, which was ruthlessly exploited by far better teams in the top flight.

Question marks over whether he can adapt to the Premier League remain but Farke is set to get one more crack at proving himself in the top flight.

However, the Leeds boss must listen to what Souness has to say as Leeds cannot afford to go toe-to-toe against far better teams in the Premier League.

If he messes up another chance in the Premier League, the German is unlikely to get another chance to manage in the top flight of English football.