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After a week of uncertainty over his Leeds United future, Daniel Farke and his players sent out a resounding message to any of his doubters against Bristol City.
Leeds United took one step closer to securing the Championship title with a comfortable and ruthless 4-0 win over Bristol City at Elland Road on Monday night.
The result leaves the Whites knowing that if they can just match Burnley’s result on Saturday, they will be champions thanks to their superior goal difference.
With Premier League football on the horizon and a potential title to add to his name, it came as a shock that reports suggested Leeds were considering sacking Daniel Farke in the summer.
But, as the team celebrated their triumph on the pitch at Elland Road on Monday night, the manager took time to outline what he intends to achieve with the club next season.
What Daniel Farke said about Leeds United’s aims for next season
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game about his future and what Leeds hope to do in the Premier League next year, Daniel Farke insisted the focus remains on the club rather than his own situation, and suggested he is intent on not just surviving in the top flight, but thriving.
He said: “Right now it’s just about celebrating the special day. It’s one of the most important days in the history of this football club.
“I’ve always spoke about why I signed a long-term contract here, so I want for us to steady the ship, to reunite the club because there was a big gap between the supporters and the playing group.
“We want to build a new group and to play how we want to play to bring the club back to the Premier League and right now the next step is to make this club an established Premier League side.
“If we’re really honest, this club belongs to the Premier League. The last 22 or 23 years we spent just three years there.”
Leeds dropped out of the top flight back in 2004 and very nearly collapsed due to financial chaos behind the scenes, but they have recovered well over the years and now have a great chance to finally attain some stability at the top level.
After witnessing what the likes of Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton have done this year, Leeds and Burnley know they face a tough task in the Premier League, but will be hoping to buck the recent trend of promoted sides failing to fit in among the elite.
Leeds United stars rave about Daniel Farke impact
After extending their impressive record over Bristol City, inching towards the title, and putting on a show for the Elland Road crowd on Monday night, Leeds players were quick to praise the work of their manager.
Dan James told Sky Sports: “[He is] absolutely unbelievable. He said three or four weeks ago we will be Premier League next year and we are.
“We backed ourselves and he backed us, so unbelievable.”
Meanwhile, Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu offered support for the under-fire Farke, adding: “He’s shown in the past he’s got a lot of success. He’s given us advice, he’s given us tips, he’s been there and done it so for us it’s about learning that.
“He gives everyone that confidence to go and do what we can do.”
Farke suffered a similar fate in the past, when he was fired by Norwich after guiding them to the top flight before struggling in the opening stages of the season. Whether he will get that time with Leeds remains to be seen, but it certainly sounds like the players are behind him all the way.