Leeds United boss Daniel Farke issues 'better side in all aspects' claim after Spurs defeat — YEP 4/10/25
By Graham Smyth
Leeds United were beaten 2-1 by Spurs on Saturday.
Leeds United were the 'better side in all aspects' in their
defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, according to boss Daniel Farke.
For the second week running Leeds made a good start and
could have gone ahead but found themselves 1-0 down by the midway point of the
first half. Joe Rodon hit the post and Dominic Calvert-Lewin skied a shot from
a great position in the home side's best first half chances, but Mathys Tel's
clinical strike had Spurs ahead on 23 minutes. Leeds fought back to level,
however, Noah Okafor tapping in after Brenden Aaronson's shot was saved and
they were well worth the 1-1 half-time scoreline.
Tottenham's quality showed once more in the second half,
Mohammed Kudus firing past Karl Darlow 12 minutes after the break and the
visitors looked dangerous on numerous occasions throughout when they broke. But
it was their defensive shape that frustrated Leeds the longer it went on, even
if Calvert-Lewin, Sean Longstaff and Joel Piroe all got shots away from decent
positions. Leeds had plenty of the ball in the latter stages but could not find
a way through and so go into the international break on the back of a defeat.
According to Farke their performance was worth far more than
defeat. "Very unfortunate," he said. "First overriding feeling
is we're disappointed, we're playing for results, you want to win points. Apart
from this I have to say just many compliments and congratulations to the lads
for this performance. I would normally be disappointed with a draw, we were the
better side in all aspects, more possession, passes, expected goals, shots on
target, big chances created, missed, more corners. In each aspect we were the
better side but football is decided by goals.
Sadly we missed too many chances and allowed ourselves one
bit clumsy loss of the ball. On this level each and every little mistake is
punished, not always as unlucky as today - first was a deflected strike from a
situation that wasn't even really dangerous. The second Gabi wants to win the
ball but then slips away and is punished with another deflection. It's tough
today. They scored two goals a bit out of nothing. I think about our
situations, Joe Rodon against the post, Calvert-Lewin big chance, Sean Longstaff
with great shooting positions, great save from Joel Piroe. We should have
scored three or four."
Farke was encouraged that even against a team playing
Champions League football, with a recent European trophy in the cabinet, his
men were able to create so much danger and dictate the game.
"I would have liked to think in two or three situations
we would hit the target," he said. "But we played one of the top
sides in the country today, playing in the Champions League, they have top
class quality. To be in the game and to dominate in many periods, this is what
is quite encouraging, it's what I like to see. I'm proud of how far we've come
as a club and a team."
The match officials were booed from the pitch for their
performance and Farke was visibly angered by a number of decisions, including
time wasting that went unchecked. But after the game the German was
tight-lipped on the refereeing.
