Daniel Farke has put immense pressure on his Leeds United future with ‘Premier League’ claim

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Leeds United and Daniel Farke are aiming to return to the Premier League at the second attempt, having fallen just short last season via the play-offs.

It always looked like it would be an exciting campaign for the club in the second tier this season, with the Whites expected to be battling it out for promotion under the two-time Championship winner with Norwich City.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	39	26	7	6	56	29	27	83
2	LeedsLeeds	39	23	12	4	78	27	51	81
3	BurnleyBurnley	39	22	15	2	53	11	42	81
4	SunderlandSunderland	39	20	12	7	56	37	19	72
5	CoventryCoventry	39	17	8	14	56	51	5	59
6	West BromWest Brom	39	13	18	8	48	35	13	57

However, a 96th minute Swansea City equaliser has left Leeds in a far less healthy situation to five games ago. The Whites’ fate remains in their own hands but they are not in good form ahead of the promotion run-in.

It’s now paramount that Leeds put a strong run together and accumulate a healthy points tally in the final seven games of the season. But Farke has already made things more difficult for both himself and the team.

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Daniel Farke’s Premier League claim was not thought out

The Whites are in a strong position in the race for automatic promotion, but they have won just one of their five Championship matches since a 3-1 victory at Bramall Lane last month.

Leeds have a favourable run-in and supercomputers are expecting promotion, but there are no guarantees at this stage. Not only that, but speaking to BBC Leeds correspondent Adam Pope post-match, Farke outlined his thoughts on promotion.

Experts have detailed that Farke’s job is on the line, which makes such a statement feel even more unnecessary. EFL Analysis expert Graeme Bailey has shed further light on these comments, underlining why the comment was perhaps misguided.

Per sources close to Bailey, we understand that Farke feels the need to be positive, as that is the only way he will keep his job. That is because the German has been told that if Leeds don’t go up, then he is gone this summer.

Despite still having two years on his contract, Farke and Leeds will part ways this summer if promotion is achieved. For many, that is why the comment was ill-advised, badly timed, and misguided. Making such a statement and raising expectations in such a way can only end in failure or meeting the target.

He can match his goal, but there is no way to surpass expectations with a statement like that. It puts immense, unnecessary pressure on himself and his team. At a time when pressure has clearly got the better of some players, it is nonsensical.

One way many Leeds fans can get back onside with the manager and team again from a recent poor spell, and a statement of that nature, would be for Farke to listen to the calls to drop Illan Meslier.

• READ MORE: Championship play-off dates, fixtures, and teams in Premier League promotion mix

What the stats and data say about Leeds United’s promotion chances

Per Opta, Leeds’ promotion chances have dipped significantly over the weekend. They have a 36.60% chance of the title, which is a lower figure than Sheffield United.

However, the model suggests that promotion from the Championship of any kind is still 73.72% likely. That is more than both the Blades and Burnley.

The data, in many ways, is irrelevant at this point. Leeds must show fight, character, determination, and any other intangibles to get over the line. They cannot afford to not, given how poor Leeds’ play-off record is.