Exclusive TM interview 

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The race for promotion from the English Championship is really beginning to heat up. The prize of playing in the Premier League, the richest division in the world, offers a huge incentive for teams, but making it out of the English second-flight is never easy. Currently there are just two points between the top three teams, with Sheffield United leading the way on 83 points, and Leeds United and Burnley just behind on 81 points apiece. Leeds just missed out on promotion last May as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley. They will be hoping to avoid the chaos of the play-offs this time around, and their manager Daniel Farke has spoken exclusively to Transfermarkt this week.

The German, who had formerly won promotion to the Premier League twice with Norwich in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons, took charge at Leeds at the start of last season, having managed Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach in-between. In an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt’s Thomas Deterding, the 48 year old discussed Leeds’ promotion chances, the current gulf between the Premier League and the Championship, the club’s transfer plans, Wiflried Gnonto and Joël Piero, and much more.

Can Leeds win promotion back to the Premier League this season?

“Promotion would be a huge success for all of us, and that motivates me every day,” a passionate Farke explained. If Leeds were to go up, then Farke would become just the second manager to gain promotion to the Premier League three times since 1992/93, emulating the football league legend Neil Warnock – a man Farke admires. “I have great respect for Neil and his impressive career. It would certainly be something special to follow in the footsteps of such a record holder. Nevertheless, my focus is not on personal bests, but on achieving the best for the club and the fans with Leeds United.”

Farke is also hoping to use last season’s play-off heartbreak to the club’s advantage this time around, “Such defeats stay with you,” the German pondered. “They are often accompanied by hard work and high expectations. Nevertheless, they are part of football and also offer an opportunity to learn from them and come back stronger. In my career on the British side, I’ve experienced both sides of the promotion battle – both the euphoria with Norwich and the pain of losing in the play-off final with Leeds. The English system with the play-offs undoubtedly creates enormous excitement and drama, which excites fans, media, and sponsors. It’s not for nothing that people talk about the ‘million-dollar game’ when you consider the financial dimensions.”

Is the gap between the Championship & the Premier League bigger than ever?

Last season in the Premier League all three promoted teams were relegated for just the second time since the league’s inception in the 1992/93 season. Now it looks as though that feat will repeat itself this term too, with Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich in the bottom three and all at least 12 points adrift of safety. Farke believes the gap is getting larger between the Championship and the Premier League: “The differences are indeed widening. The Premier League has financial clout, generating enormous resources through TV money and sponsorship.

“In the Championship, on the other hand, many clubs struggle with limited resources. It’s difficult to bridge this gap, especially if a newly promoted club can’t make the right investments right away.” Asked what are the most important aspects to remain in the Premier League, the Leeds boss said, “It’s primarily about quality and depth in the squad, but also about infrastructure and long-term planning. A club must be willing to invest in players, training facilities, and scouting. Without these fundamentals, it’s almost impossible to assert yourself in the Premier League.

Leeds’ transfer business

According to the Transfermarkt’s database, Leeds have the smallest squad in the entire Championship. With 46 league games, plus the possibility of play-offs it is likely to stretch the Yorkshire side’s squad, but Farke also sees the advantages to this, “Of course, a small squad with 46 league games plus playoffs is a challenge. We have to rotate cleverly and avoid injuries. But I’ve also experienced that a compact squad can have advantages – it promotes team spirit.” As we approach the business end of the season, there is also the risk, particularly if Leeds’ fail to get promoted, of the the club losing more stars, but Farke is confident that won’t be the case, “I am optimistic that we can keep the core of the team – that is crucial for sustainable success.”

Farke had previously been quoted claiming the domestic transfer market in England is overpriced, and expanded on that notion to Transfermarkt: “It is overpriced, that’s true. That means we have to be creative and think outside the box. The EFL’s foreign player rule requires a smart balance between domestic and international players. In doing so, we need to carefully prioritise which markets are attractive to us. The German market remains interesting, particularly due to the high quality of training and the tactical nature of the players.

“However, the Brexit-related regulations certainly make recruiting from Europe more difficult. Our strategy therefore needs to be flexible. We are increasingly looking at markets outside Europe, where talented players are available at more moderate costs. At the same time, it’s important to involve our own young talent more closely in order to operate independently of transfer restrictions in the long term.” Rumours began circulating last month linking Leeds with Farke’s former protégé Julian Weigl, whom he worked with at Monchengladbach, and the midfielder is certainly a player Farke admires. “Julian is a great footballer and person. He could enrich many teams with his qualities. However, my focus at this stage of the season is entirely on our current squad and getting the best out of the team.”

Wilfried Gnonto & Joël Piroe pivotal to Leeds’ success?

Italian winger Gnonto is one of the most valuable players in the Championship at €16 million, and currently has 10 goals this term – the same as last season. Farke was full of praise for the 21 year old, “Gnonto has developed brilliantly. Like almost every young player, he also has room for improvement—especially in terms of consistency. I can imagine where many players could go, but ultimately, the lads have to make it happen themselves.” The club decided against signing a new striker in January, but their current no.9 Piroe still has a good chance of becoming the Championship’s top scorer this season. He currently has 15 league goals, and Farke has been thrilled with his forward’s contribution, “Joël has been outstanding this season – his efficiency in front of goal makes him a really key player for us.”

Holding on to both of those stars next season is likely to hinge massively on whether Leeds are able to gain promotion this season. With just seven games to go it’s extremely tight, and next up for the Whites is a trip to struggling Luton this Saturday lunchtime. A victory there might just set Leeds on their way and move Farke closer to becoming just the second manager in history to gain promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.