Daniel Farke cannot understand what Leeds United are about to do this week as the race for automatic promotion reaches its climax.
With Leeds to face QPR on Friday night, it is crunch time in the race for automatic promotion in the Championship. The Whites have the chance to go four points clear of Ipswich.
Ipswich will still have two games in hand over Leeds but the psychological advantage of a four-point gap between second and third is massive at this stage.
Daniel Farke suggests Leeds were given the choice as to when to play the home clash against Norwich amid their FA Cup run, which saw Leeds lose to Chelsea. They chose to play at Elland Road on January 24.
That is despite facing Preston three days earlier and then Plymouth three days later. Farke and Leeds did that in order to keep games apart at the end of the season – to allow the players to rest and recover.
But in true Leeds fashion, things didn’t go to plan and the Whites saw their game against Middlesbrough moved by TV to Monday night. It means Leeds now play two away games in the space of four days.
And that prompted a bit of a rant from Farke in his press conference on Thursday ahead of the QPR.
He says “it is hard to explain” why the decision was made to throw Leeds two away matches in four days.
Daniel Farke can’t understand decision for Leeds to play Monday
Farke said at his press conference on Thursday: “When I think about us, we took the decision with the Cup run that we would do our postponed game against Norwich in the middle of the week when we had lots of load.
“We accepted it even though we have more load than any of our opponents to have three normal weeks now. Paid the price, but the game is moved to Monday. All of a sudden, two away games in four days.
“No-one can explain why. We expected to play on Friday at Middlesbrough, then next Friday against QPR.
“Why it was moved to Monday, it affects availability, quick turn around for recovery. It’s hard to explain.
Leeds and Ipswich matches compared
It’s QPR away from home on Friday night and then Southampton at home next Saturday. A QPR side that have a dismal home record with just six wins from 22 games, the 23rd worst record in the Championship.
Leeds have the third-best away form in the League so on paper, it looks a formality. Then, Southampton on Saturday – who will now be preparing to go into the play-offs and could end up resting players.
Ipswich have two really tough games before taking on Huddersfield on the final day of the season. Kieran McKenna’s side go to Hull on Saturday and then Coventry. Two huge games that gives Leeds a chance.