Daniel Farke faces the media on Thursday afternoon for his pre-match press conference. The Leeds United manager will take questions from television, radio, print and online journalists at Thorp Arch ahead of the Southampton clash on Saturday afternoon.
Here is a run-down of some of the main topics on the agenda for the boss to address at the training ground today.
Eyes and ears on Suffolk?
Farke’s sole interest is likely to be in winning Saturday’s match, regardless of what that means to the league table, but it will be interesting to see what his preferred methods are for the final day. Will he want all the information? No information? Pertinent information at the right moments?
READ MORE: Leeds United expecting major training boost after injury ahead of Southampton clash
Ipswich Town’s clash with Huddersfield Town is of vital importance, whether Farke wants to know what’s happening or not.
How has he led the response to last Friday?
Last Friday was a damaging experience for everyone connected to Leeds. To suffer the worst defeat of the season at the worst possible time must have made the days after that very hard to swallow and process.
How has Farke steadied the ship as its leader this week? What methods has he used to energise the squad? How has he looked to set the tone ahead of what could be a play-off run?
Injury latest
Where is the squad at with injuries as we go into the final match of the regular season? Patrick Bamford was the hot topic last week, but how has the bruise on his knee recovered since Friday?
Daniel James and Connor Roberts were also missing and the Welsh pair had been given an outside chance of making the Saints game. They are experienced heads the German could really do with on Saturday.
Southampton
On their day, Southampton have been one of the best sides in the Championship this season. Their unbeaten run of 22 matches down the spine of the campaign remains unrivalled in 2023/24 and yet they have finished fourth in the table.
Farke’s thoughts on the Saints will be interesting. What has he made of them? They went from looking like an unstoppable juggernaut, to being out of the picture, to briefly coming back into it and then three straight losses finally ended their automatic hopes.
Cooper’s experience and Ampadu in midfield
It may have been a throwaway comment in the heat of the moment after Friday’s painful defeat, but Farke did mention a lack of experience in his line-up and the possibility of Liam Cooper playing in the capital that night. Did he mean it and has last week shown the manager the importance of wiser heads in season-defining clashes like Saturday’s?
His criticism of midfield may have also hinted at Ethan Ampadu shuffling forward. The last time Farke tried this Leeds were nearly beaten at Watford on Good Friday.
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