Daniel Farke was effusive in his praise for his Leeds United side after they secured a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, marking their first win of the season.
The result was a significant relief for Farke, who has had to navigate a challenging start to the campaign amidst growing frustrations over the lack of signings and a winless run in their opening three matches.
The pressure had been mounting on the Leeds boss, who became visibly irritated by the incessant questions about the club’s transfer inactivity.
The tension was only exacerbated by Leeds’ failure to secure a victory in their first three outings, leaving supporters and pundits alike questioning the club’s preparedness for the season ahead.
However, the arrival of Largie Ramazani from UD Almeria brought an end to a 32-day drought in the transfer market, and it seemed to lift the mood among the fanbase almost immediately.
The timing of the signing, coupled with the subsequent victory over their Yorkshire rivals, has injected a sense of optimism back into the Leeds camp. With the transfer window still open for a few more days, there is a growing belief that the club could add further reinforcements to bolster their squad.
Farke was particularly impressed with the performance of Mateo Joseph, who, despite not scoring, was instrumental in Leeds’ success on the night.
The young forward was named man of the match by Sky Sports, underscoring his significant contribution through link-up play, movement, and a sublime assist for Dan James’ goal. Farke did not hold back in his post-match praise, describing Joseph’s display as ‘perfect.’
“Joseph was excellent today, he was perfect,” Farke said. “Perfect assist, his work rate. His first few passes were over-excited, and he should have hit the target. He deserves praise, but we need to be careful. There is still much work to do, especially on set pieces. Under these circumstances, it was a mature performance.”
The night saw several standout performances from Leeds players. Brenden Aaronson and Dan James grabbed the headlines with their goals, while Jayden Bogle delivered his best performance in a Leeds shirt.
Pascal Struijk was dominant in the air, winning nearly every defensive header, and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl labelled Wilfried Gnonto’s display as ‘unbelievable.’
Yet, it was Joseph’s all-around game that caught Farke’s eye. Despite missing a chance to score in the second half, Joseph’s contribution was invaluable. His assist for James’ goal, a perfectly weighted pass, was one of the highlights of the match.
Dan James, speaking after the match, was full of admiration for Joseph’s contribution, particularly in the absence of a goal.
“Yeah, I think it’s a great pass,” James said. “He is not scoring, but he is always contributing to goals, involved in both goals today. Great goalscorer as well. You will see that over time. Even when he is not scoring, he is assisting. He is contributing to plays, he is holding the ball up, and he has been brilliant. Try and continue it.”
The victory and individual performances have set a positive tone for Leeds as they look to build momentum. With further signings potentially on the horizon, Farke will be hoping his side can continue to push forward in what remains a long and demanding season.