Daniel Farke's Wolverhampton Wanderers warning as Leeds United enjoy the ride without yet reaching destination — Yorkshire Post 14/4/26
By Stuart Rayner
Leeds United rewrote another bit of club history at Old
Trafford on Monday, but manager Daniel Farke urged them to "stay
humble" until the real celebrations can start.
Because whilst Farke is enjoying the ride, he will not be
happy until they reach their destination – Premier League survival.
Leeds are six points clear of the relegation zone, with four
of their remaining six matches against teams below them in the table, after
their 2-1 win at Manchester United.
Supporters of a club who had not won a league game at
Manchester United since 1981 were elated to inflict a first home defeat on
their fierce rivals since Michael Carrick was appointed manager.
But in Farke's eyes it makes Saturday's visit of
Wolverhampton Wanderers, who could be relegated that day, one of Leeds' most
difficult this season.
"I'm staying humble, not being overconfident and
celebrating already," he insisted after two first-half Noah Okafor goals
saw his side to victory. "I'm proud of this win, and we take confidence
out of this, but we don't forget where we're coming from.
"The momentum can change pretty quickly – we have to
stay on it.
"I don't want to celebrate too much that we have
created something really historical. I know we also achieved several records,
last season – record goal difference, record points, record goals.
"I want to establish us on a permanent level (in the
top division) again. We can celebrate in the summer break if we keep going like
this, but not before, because I'm pretty aware that even at the end of the
season, momentum can change.
"Saturday will probably be one of our most difficult
game during the whole season, because the expectations are high in the home
games right now to win.
"I predict it will be a very difficult game and my
focus is already to make sure that we deliver points in the next game."
Farke always regards the final six matches of a league
campaign as the "crunch time", and was asked how he would have felt
when Leeds began life back in the top-flight after two years away about going
into it with 36 points.
"I would have said pretty good, because in the last
seasons 36 points would have been enough to stay in this league and know that
all the promoted side from the last (two) seasons were relegated straight
away," he replied.
"We haven't spent that much money like other sides have
done in the last years.
"I'd never signed (up as manager) just for 32 game
days, 36 points. I play each game to win it.
"I don't just want a perfect outcome, I also want to
enjoy the ride a little bit, and I want to win football games.
"I would have preferred to have even more points.
"I think performance-wise, we should be on way more
points anyhow, if we would have shown a bit more effectiveness in both boxes.
"To be in an FA Cup semi-final and on a good path to
save our status as a promoted side, you can't complain too much about it.
