Daniel Farke has underlined the scale of Leeds United’s challenge when Crystal Palace visit Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 BST.
The Leeds manager spoke highly of Palace’s recent achievements, saying the club had enjoyed exceptional success in recent seasons, including winning titles. He also believes the Eagles have strengthened during the summer and are now a stronger team than they were last season.
Leeds will welcome back Ilian Gruev, who is available after playing almost 90 minutes for the under-21 side following a lengthy knee injury absence. However, Harry Wilson has suffered a quad injury and is expected to miss Wales’ international fixtures, while Joe Rodon remains unavailable.
Farke also played down the prospect of making his own contract situation a regular topic of discussion, preferring to keep the focus on Leeds’ performances. His team have maintained strong form stretching back to last season, although he said their immediate objective remains reaching 40 points and securing another Premier League campaign.
That makes Sunday’s meeting a significant test for Palace against a Leeds side full of confidence, but Farke’s comments show the respect he has for the Eagles’ quality and recent progress.
