Leeds United manager Daniel Farke may have significant influence at the club, but he remains far from matching the dominance that Sir Alex Ferguson once held over English football during his tenure at Manchester United.
As the upcoming international break approaches, Farke is left anxiously monitoring updates, hoping that none of his key players suffer injuries that could impact Leeds’ push for promotion in the Championship. Unlike Ferguson, who had the power to limit his players’ participation in international duty, Farke acknowledges that he does not have the same level of control. During Ferguson’s time, Manchester United frequently clashed with the Football Association over player availability, with Ferguson strategically withdrawing certain players from England duty. Former United midfielder Nicky Butt once explained that Ferguson would sometimes hold back one or two players while allowing the rest to join their national teams.
Leeds currently have several players expected to represent their countries during the break. Joe Rodon, Dan James, Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani, and Ao Tanaka are all set to travel, while Brenden Aaronson has lost his place in the United States squad to Diego Luna, a player linked with a move to Leeds. Additionally, Isaac Schmidt is reportedly close to receiving his first call-up for Switzerland.
Farke openly admitted his frustration, stating that he can only hope his players return unscathed. He lamented the fact that managers can no longer exert the same influence Ferguson once had over national team selections. While Farke can make polite requests to national team managers, he understands that the days of simply refusing to send players on international duty are long gone.
Despite these challenges, the Leeds manager remains optimistic. He acknowledged the demanding fixture schedule, particularly the quick turnaround from a Sunday match to a Wednesday fixture, followed by an early Saturday game. With just 60 hours between matches, player recovery is a concern. However, the break could prove beneficial for those who are not called up for international duty, including Illan Meslier, Junior Firpo, Jayden Bogle, and Joe Rothwell.
Farke is also hopeful that Patrick Bamford and Max Wober will be available once the Championship season resumes in late March. He sees the break as an opportunity for injured players to move closer to full fitness.
Leeds United head into the break after securing a crucial victory midweek, where an own goal from Jake Cooper and a stunning strike from Ao Tanaka helped them leapfrog Sheffield United and take a two-point lead at the top of the table. The team also avoided any major injuries, though Joe Rothwell sustained a minor knee issue, and Isaac Schmidt missed the game due to illness.
Farke provided an update, reassuring that there were no serious injury concerns. He confirmed that all players from the previous match were available for selection, including Schmidt, who had since returned to training. The manager is hopeful that Schmidt will be an option for the upcoming fixture against Queens Park Rangers.
Leeds now prepare for their trip to Loftus Road, looking to maintain their momentum and continue their push for promotion.