Leeds United will have spent this week looking to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the top two.
The Whites get their play-off campaign underway with a trip to Norwich City on Sunday, who they will then welcome to Elland Road in the second leg for a place at Wembley in six days’ time.
Having gone into the March international break top of the Championship, Leeds had looked extremely well set for a place in the automatic promotion spots.
However, a dismal run of four defeats in their last six matches saw both Leicester City and Ipswich Town win the race, with Leeds now effectively getting a second chance in the play-offs.
Martin O’Neill believes Daniel Farke has a big job on his hands getting his side ready to go again, while the poor run of form has also left supporters feeling pessimistic.
Farke says Leeds squad did something he loves this week
This Leeds side will be looking to become the first in the club’s history to win promotion via this route, having failed in all five of their previous attempts.
With the record books and form stacking up against them, Leeds’ squad took matters into their own hands this week by organising a full team meal.
The players were all pictured together at a restaurant as they took themselves away from the stresses of a play-off environment, at least for one night anyway.
Farke was asked about this in his pre-match press conference earlier today and claimed it is something he really loves to see, pointing towards how ‘united and tight’ the group is.
He said: “I love this and always encourage this. I have a feeling we have a really great spirit. This group is united and so tight together. For me it’s second to none, I think it’s outstanding and why this young team has played such a season with 90 points.
“We’re not the end product but the spirit was always good. In terms of togetherness and unity, you can be united when the sun’s shining, with a club record of unbeaten games, sadly we lost our last two games, they are still so together in these moments.
“These are the basic ingredients to be successful and be allowed to celebrate. Not a guarantee that we will celebrate but without the spirit you won’t. Hopefully the spirit carries us through the next days and weeks.”
Junior Firpo sends statement of play-off intent
Farke has often mentioned how young and inexperienced this squad is compared to the rest of the division, and so it would not be a surprise if one of the old heads organised this.
Junior Firpo can certainly be considered as among the most senior players at the club, and he sent a statement of intent on Instagram yesterday.
He posted a picture onto his story alongside the caption ‘270’, showing how many minutes of football Leeds are away from the Premier League again.
It would be a great story individually for Firpo if he was to help Leeds get the job done after such a difficult time since joining from Barcelona.