Leeds United continued their unbeaten home record in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road.
This is the last action for both these sides in the EFL Championship for two weeks as players across the leagues are called up on international duty.
After the match, Daniel Farke said: “It’s a great honour to represent your country on an international level and I am happy for my players.”
Despite his pride for his players, the international break also comes with a host of challenges.
“Football comes along with the risk of injuries, it is always a bit more complicated with the more fixtures in such a short period,” Farke said
Are the fixtures unfair?
For Leeds, the risk of injuries is higher than most other clubs in the division with nine first-team players being called up to represent their nations.
With this many playing extra fixtures Farke said: “I hope and pray they come back with no injuries.”
Not only does Leeds United have one of the highest number of players away they are also playing on Friday 24th November which is the first game back in the EFL Championship much to the anger of the Leeds boss.
“I am unhappy with playing on Friday so this is the biggest concern for me,”
“Rotherham don’t have as many away and in the sense of fair play it would have been much better if we were not involved in the Friday game but instead the two sides who have the same number of players away,” Farke said.
The demanding fixtures in the league are already taking their toll on the Leeds squad with Sam Byram going off with a hamstring strain.
“Sam felt pain after a sprint and I had to bring Junior Firpo on for longer than I would have liked after being out for such a long period,” Farke said.
Despite all the struggles for the side that is third in the league the Leeds manager said: “It’s nothing we can change we have to adapt to the reality.”
Looking ahead to the break
With all the concerns the international break also gives managers time to get tactics right and give those players that need a rest some lighter work and this is exactly the case with Leeds.
“In the beginning, we will turn the load a bit down because this league Is relentless and especially with the festive period coming up it will be a tricky period,”
“We will have so many games, so the first week will give them a bit of relief.” Farke said.
The two weeks also gives clubs the chance to improve the areas that they feel need improving and after a dominating game against Plymouth but only winning by a narrow margin.
Farke said: “When you see the chances we had in the second half you wish to score 6 or 7 and win this game comfortably and don’t have to fight till the last second but its always the same if you don’t take your chances.”
“So, if there is one thing we have to work on, we have to be more clinical and it is an ongoing process.”
Leeds United still sits well in the league despite the boss demanding more the Yorkshire side haves hopes of automatic promotion in their sight and Farke believes: “We are at top level and In a really good path, im really happy with our performance level and we are showing really consistent in the the way we want to play.”
“If we can keep this up till the end of the season then happy days but there is a long way to go”
