Leeds United should be ‘intrigued’ by Southampton example with Daniel Farke’s future called into question

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Daniel Farke became the ninth manager to gain promotion with Leeds United after Easter Monday saw Leeds United and Burnley secure their place in the 2025/26 Premier League.

The Whites can begin planning for life back in the top flight now with two games to spare, with results going their way over the Easter Weekend following Sheffield United defeat at Turf Moor.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	44	27	13	4	89	29	60	94
2	BurnleyBurnley	44	26	16	2	61	15	46	94
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	44	27	7	10	60	35	25	86
4	SunderlandSunderland	44	21	13	10	58	41	17	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	44	17	16	11	57	49	8	67
6	CoventryCoventry	44	19	9	16	62	57	5	66

After losing Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville, there were no guarantees that they would be able to build a squad capable of competing. However, Daniel Farke and co. have built a strong squad yet again.

They struck a balance in defence and attack which is perhaps more impressive than last season. It now means they can get to 100 points and become one of the best Championship teams ever in doing so in these final two games.

• READ MORE: Leeds United have already been handed Premier League promotion boost over Burnley, here’s why

George Elek and Ali Maxwell outline Daniel Farke concerns amid praise for the Leeds United boss

EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have had their say on the work Daniel Farke has done to get there, including the merits of him as a Premier League manager after difficulties with Norwich City previously.

The gap between the Championship and the Premier League is growing, which other pundits have also detailed in their warning to Burnley and Leeds. Can Farke be the man to ensure survival?

Elek said: “I’m really intrigued to see how they’re going to get on next season. I’ve said at points this season that Southampton should have turned to Russell Martin and Russell Martin should’ve turned to Southampton after the play-off final and said thank you and goodbye.

“Farke has already shown, on two separate occasions, taking a team up as champions from the championship and then overseen a relegation campaign in the Premier League. Is he the person to keep them up there? I’m not entirely sure.”

However, he also had plenty of praise for Leeds’ boss. He added: “But he’s an absolute master of building these incredibly intense, relentless attacking sides. And I’m not having any of the criticism that’s put his way.

“The failings or the moments of Leeds this season where they haven’t been quite as good and results haven’t been quite as good has been goalkeeping errors. Which, I guess, you could say that he made the changes too late in terms of bringing [Karl] Darlow in, and some wasteful finishing.

“Between both boxes, they have been miles clear, in my mind, of anyone else. That is with big respect to Burnley and to Sheffield United as well.”

Maxwell added further praise: “The most notable thing for me all season has been the positioning of the Bogle and Firpo. How rare it is to have two full-backs in a back four that are that attacking. Again, to come back to it from a defensive point of view, that you don’t get caught out very often on the counter-attack. It genuinely doesn’t make any logical sense to me.

“It must mean that both the ability of the defenders — Rodon and Struijk or Ampadu and Rodon — and the ability of the midfielders — Ampadu and Tanaka and Tanaka and Gruev — that their ability to build-up without giving the ball away in scenarios that would be dangerous defensively, but also well positioned to snuff out counter-attacks when they do happen, is genuinely incredible.

“I really, really haven’t seen anything like that before.”

Either way, it’s not the focus just yet, with a title still to be won and Elek has also backed Leeds to do it given that they are ‘miles better’ than Burnley in some areas.

• READ MORE: These 5 Leeds United players need to be offloaded as Daniel Farke’s side head for the Premier League

Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton set for the worst promotion seasons ever in the Premier League

In terms of quality, the Premier League is at an all-time high and this bar is being continuously raised. For teams looking to adjust from the Championship, this huge difference is proving very difficult to overcome.

Leeds must learn a few lessons from the current trio at the bottom of the league. Southampton have gone from 87 points down to just 11 in a dismal campaign. They could yet equal Derby County’s record for the fewest points in a Premier League season.

50 points between them at the matchday 33 stage has them on track to be the worst three promoted teams ever, beating last season’s tally from the three promoted sides. It highlights how much work there is to be done for Leeds and Burnley.

Farke has a fantastic record as Leeds boss, but his Premier League record is more akin to the teams that his side are replacing. That has to change, one way or another.