Daniel Farke tells Leeds not to get carried away after Ipswich win

By Sports Desk December 23, 2023

Leeds boss Daniel Farke warned his players they won only three points after their resounding 4-0 victory against automatic promotion rivals Ipswich.

Skipper Pascal Struijk’s early header, Leif Davis’s own goal against his former club and Crysencio Summerville’s penalty put Leeds 3-0 up at half-time.

Farke’s side kept the hammer down after the break to the delight of a raucous Elland Road crowd as Joel Piroe added a fourth, while the Dutch forward and team-mate Georginio Rutter both saw shots hit the crossbar.

It was a statement win for Leeds as they closed the gap on second-placed Ipswich to seven points and extended their unbeaten home run this season to 12 matches.

Farke said: “To win three points is always priceless. That’s the most important thing. It was good also for our goal difference.

“And yes, if you win in such a manner against one of the best sides in this league, then it’s also good for the confidence and a big boost for the mood.

“But nothing major has changed. It’s not like right now we are sitting top of the table.

“Ipswich are still in a really good position and it’s important also that we protect our position because we can expect the teams around us to pick up many points and we have to keep going.”

Ipswich were bidding to extend their advantage over Leeds to 13 points, but were overrun and outclassed in just their third league defeat this season.

“When you deliver such a performance in such a spotlight game it also sends a bit of a message out, but it’s not more than three points,” Farke added.

“It’s not possible in a game of football to put in a perfect performance, but I will say it’s probably our most mature performance of the season.

“We played one of the top sides of this level and we were all over them. We fully deserved a 4-0 win.”

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who guided the club to promotion in May, suffered his first defeat by more than two goals in two seasons as their manager.

“Of course it was a disappointing game that didn’t got the way we wanted it to go,” he said.

“It certainly wasn’t an enjoyable experience, but over the course of a long season you’re going to have days that don’t go your way and today was one of them.

“We’ll learn from it and move on really, really quickly.”

Ipswich, who went close through Conor Chaplin’s shot, which skimmed a post, and Nathan Broadhead in the first-half, must regroup in time for the visit of leaders Leicester on Boxing Day, while Leeds play at Preston.

Related items

  • Martino resigns as Inter Miami coach after early playoff exit Martino resigns as Inter Miami coach after early playoff exit

    Gerardo Martino has resigned as Inter Miami's head coach due to personal reasons, the MLS side have confirmed.

    The Argentine ends his 17-month stint in charge of the Herons following their MLS Cup exit just under a fortnight ago.

    Martino, who oversaw Miami's Leagues Cup triumph soon after his arrival last season, guided the franchise to this year's Supporters' Shield with a regular-season record tally of 74 points.

    However, they were eliminated by his former side Atlanta United in round one of the MLS Cup playoffs.

    Miami opened their best-of-three series against Atlanta with a 2-1 win, only to lose by the same scoreline in Game 2 before falling to a dramatic 3-2 defeat in the decider.

    “It has been an honour to work at such a special club, and to lead such a special team," Martino said.  

    "I’ve enjoyed my stay at Inter Miami and will treasure the memories made and relationships forged here for the rest of my life.

    "I depart with nothing but gratitude for my time here and would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone that made it possible."

  • Fonseca: Milan have 'respect' but 'are not afraid' of Juventus Fonseca: Milan have 'respect' but 'are not afraid' of Juventus

    Paulo Fonseca said Milan have plenty of "respect" for Juventus, but his side "are not afraid" of their rivals ahead of their Serie A clash on Saturday. 

    After a slow start to the season, Milan are six points adrift of Juventus in the table, but only a place behind them, as they aim to make up the ground on the top six. 

    The Rossoneri have played a game less than Thiago Motta's side, and could catapult themselves back into the Scudetto picture with a win this weekend. 

    Milan return to the San Siro for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Napoli at the end of October, and could register two consecutive home defeats in Serie A for the first time since between October and November in 2023. 

    "It is not decisive, but it is important, like all of them," Fonseca told reporters ahead of Saturday's game.

    "I can't say that the game against Juve is more important than the next one against Empoli because we need consecutive victories.

    "It's a different game, but I always think positively. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for the 'Bianconeri', but we are not afraid. We are here ready to win."

    A boost for Milan is that Juventus will be without top scorer Dusan Vlahovic for Saturday's clash after returning from international duty with a muscle problem. 

    Despite the Serbian's absence, Fonseca was aware of the danger his probable replacement, Timothy Weah, would pose, having managed him during his time at Lille. 

    "Juve knows how to adapt very well. I don't know if Weah will play," Fonseca said.

    "Weah is very fast and attacks deep, not like Vlahovic. It will not be the same thing of course.

    "We will have to pay attention to movements in depth and less to support work, because he is a player who does less of this job."

    While Fonseca has endured a stuttering start to his tenure at the San Siro, Milan have shown they have the ability to match the very best. 

    They beat rivals Inter in October before stunning Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their last Champions League encounter, keeping their play-off hopes alive. 

    "I believe it's a matter of motivation and not pressure," Fonseca said.

    "Against Inter, Juve and Real it is easy to be motivated, it's more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation.

    "Pressure is always with us, every day. If we don't want to have pressure, then we shouldn't be here."

  • 'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes 'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes

    Ruben Amorim believes he is the "right guy at the right time" to turn Manchester United's fortunes around.

    The 39-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this month to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2027, replacing Erik ten Hag after he was sacked in October.

    Amorim is the sixth permanent United manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, having left Sporting CP to take charge during the international break.

    He won two Primeira Liga titles as Sporting head coach as well as two Taca da Liga trophies, while he led the club to a perfect start in the league this season, winning all 11 of their games.

    United sit 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town on 15 points, though they are just four points behind Chelsea in third.

    Amorim recognised the size of the task ahead of him in Manchester but is confident he can make a change.

    "I'm a little bit of a dreamer and I believe in myself, and I believe in the club," he said during his first press conference.

    "I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.

    "I truly believe in the players; I know you don't believe a lot, but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don't think it's possible, I do.

    "Call me naive, but I believe I am the right guy at the right time. I truly believe I am the right guy."

    Aged 39 years and 302 days, Amorim will be the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).

    United have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season, and have struggled in front of goal, netting just 12 times so far.

    Expected to implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation, Amorim admitted it would take time for the club to adapt and has asked for patience as the players get used to his tactics.

    "I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it's a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try to win the title," he added.

    "We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don't know how long it will take."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.