Daniel Farke has been speaking in his press conference ahead of the final Championship game of the season against Southampton and discussed Leeds United’s chances of finishing in second.
Promotion via the top two spots now looks as good as over with Leeds needing to beat Southampton at Elland Road and also requiring nearly-relegated Huddersfield Town to beat Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich.
Leeds securing a win over Russell Martin’s out-of-form side is conceivable. But to expect a side that sit in 23rd and are pretty much relegated to League One to get a result away at Ipswich is incredibly unlikely.
However, while there is a chance there, then there is a glimmer of hope and that is the message Farke tried to convey in Thursday’s press conference ahead of his side welcoming Southampton to Yorkshire.
The clash against Southampton could also be a dress rehearsal for a possible play-off final if both sides beat their opponents. As things stand, Southampton face Norwich and Leeds take on West Brom.
Farke said that despite a couple of poor results of late ending any real chance of Leeds finishing in second, he is incredibly proud of the players for putting themselves into the position they are currently in.
Here is what the Leeds gaffer said on Thursday afternoon:
Leeds boss Daniel Farke shares what he has kept secret all season
Farke said that he is still hopeful to finish in second place but if that does not happen, then he is excited at the prospect of taking Leeds into the play-offs and possibly securing promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds cannot fall lower than third and Southampton will definitely finish in fourth, regardless of results this weekend. What is to play for, is for fifth and sixth, Norwich are fifth on 73, West Brom in sixth on 72.
Hull could overtake West Brom but with the Baggies boasting a much better goal difference, Hull need The Baggies to lose against Preston at home while beating Plymouth Argyle down south themselves.
Farke said: “We still have a chance of the top two. If second doesn’t happen, then I’m excited by the play-offs. If you told me in September we’d have a chance of the Premier League in the first year of asking.
“I didn’t say this in public but internally I would have said no chance, because of the situation we were in [last summer]. It’s a great situation,” Farke told media ahead of the clash against Southampton.
What the pundits are saying about Leeds getting second place
TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan completely ruled out the possibility of Leeds finishing in second place and winning an automatic promotion place back to the Premier League and he is probably right.
But Ben Parker thinks that while there is a chance, then Leeds could pip Ipswich into second place. If it is third for Leeds, then Micah Richards thinks The Whites end up winning the play-offs on May 26.
It is very unlikely that Leeds get second but that does not mean Saturday’s game is a dead rubber. The winner will take confidence into the play-offs and if they meet eachother in the final, mind games.
