Daniel Farke is “a bit disappointed” with Leeds’ 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 51st-minute close-range finish rescued Leeds a point, after they fell behind to Bryan Mbeumo’s 35th-minute finish from Youri Tielemans’ cross.
“I wanted to win this game and my boys as well, you could see this outside,” explained a deflated Farke to leedsunited.com as the Whites sat seventh in the Premier League – having missed a chance to climb to fifth. “We’re even a bit disappointed we didn’t win it.”
Farke proceeded to express his belief that his team were the stronger team as he rued Mbeumo’s opener which put the hosts behind at half time, on top of poor decision making in the end product of his own players.
“I think we were the better side, the dominant side. It was not necessary to be losing at half-time. If you’re not one moment switched on to track the run and with their quality they can hurt you.
“We lacked a bit in our decision making in the first half, could have done a bit better and played with more clarity in and around the box.
“We had this in the second half, had the momentum but the problem was there were too many strikes over the crossbar and too many crosses were a bit too long.
“This situation killed a bit our momentum. This lack of quality in the finishing and crossing was the only thing I could criticise.”
Farke also iterated that everyone has “… to be aware it’s still Manchester United and the quality that they have and can bring in,” as he spoke of their counter-attacking threats but is pleased with his team’s overall performance amidst the end product issues.
“With a counter attack they can still hurt you, and we have not allowed anything in the second half, and for that many compliments to my players for another really good performance and to dominate the performance against Man United.
“With a bit more quality in the final third I think we could have even won it.”
Farke only brought Sean Longstaff and Lukas Nmecha on as substitutes and left players like Harry Wilson, Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Brenden Aaronson on the bench, which he explained was down to the physical defensive needs of the second half.
“It was a different game today in comparison to some of the last game days – we had to defend a bit like a basketball team, always quick transition moments for Man United and we needed legs. Because they played so deep it was more important instead of going for the genius pass, to threaten them with physicality.
“It was not the time for our perhaps technical players who can find the easy little pass. We needed a bit more experience and physicality.”
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