Revealed: Why Daniel Farke is ready to prove Leeds United's detractors wrong

Daniel Farke reckons 99% of pundits have written off Leeds United as no-hopers but has warned them: “We’re ready to prove you wrong.”

During the past two seasons, all three promoted clubs have suffered an immediate relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites have been dismissed as certainties for the drop in some quarters after a bitterly disappointing end to their transfer window.

Farke was desperate to bring in striking reinforcements before the window closed, but nothing materialised after a late move for Fulham’s Harry Wilson collapsed.

That has raised fears that Leeds have left themselves short yet Farke, who spent £100million on 10 new signings this summer, has taken a belligerent stance.

The Elland Road boss, whose side travel to Fulham today, said: “It’s fair to say after deadline day we weren’t dancing on tables.

“It would be nonsense if I came out and said ‘it was never the plan to sign more offensive players’.

“I would never do this but once the situation is done, I adapt to the reality and you won’t hear one bad word from me now.

“I’m there for the players and I have to lead – and I’m also not too angry that everyone has written us off already.

“All the pundits – or at least 99% of them – let them write us off.

“That’s no problem at all because it’s always a big motivation if you’re doubted as a team.

“There are many doubters around at the moment, so I need to give backing and trust to my players.

“We already have four points, including our first win, and two clean sheets.”

Farke has seen the sniping on social media about some of his players not being Premier League quality.

Several of the existing squad were part of the side who got Leeds relegated in 2022-23.

Farke added: “I read the comments about our wingers – Daniel James, Willy Gnonto, Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson – not being good enough three years ago.

“But I’ve told my players ‘take this as extra motivation to fight’ so we have to stick together even more.

“They have to show the outside world that they have developed individually and are better players than they were back then.

“I’m concentrating on making my players better to make sure that we’re successful and finish better than we did three years ago.

“My only focus is on staying up and I have too much fight in myself, as do my players, to accept being here just for one year.

“We want to stay in the Premier League for good and of course it won’t be easy.

“But we’ll put a lot of hard work into getting the points we need to stay up. And I’m pretty convinced we will do this.”

Leeds are hoping to be boosted by the return of skipper Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka but Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha could miss out with knocks.

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