According to The Athletic, Leeds United made a strong start to the new Premier League season, temporarily climbing to third place in the table after a convincing 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. However, manager Daniel Farke immediately pointed out the team's shortcomings after the match and reminded the squad to remain humble. This attention to detail, even after a win, may be key to Leeds United's impressive recent run, during which they have lost just 5 of 29 league matches since December last year and accumulated 35 points.

Ampadu might have expected birthday wishes from Daniel Farke after helping the team beat Newcastle United on the night of his 26th birthday.

Instead, he received a brief lecture from Leeds' manager about what he and the team had done wrong in the 4-1 victory.

As of now, Leeds United has accumulated 35 points in the league, with only four teams having more points over the same period. In 29 league matches since December 1st last year, Leeds United has lost only 5—with defeats to Arsenal and West Ham United being the only two losses by more than one goal, the latter occurring when the team had nothing left to play for.

This victory is the latest in a string of positive events for Leeds United over the past nine months. But given the team's recent form over the last four matches, the victory has also excited supporters about Leeds' temporary third-place position in the Premier League table. However, even on his birthday, Ampadu was still reminded that things could have been better.

Perhaps this is the key moment. Perhaps Daniel Farke's immediate conversation on the touchline after the match is precisely why Leeds United is performing so well right now.

At the highest level, resting on one's laurels is not an option, especially for a team that has only just returned to the top flight for their second season and, according to their manager, whose "individual player quality is far from the best."

"We know we must remain humble," Daniel Farke said at the post-match press conference. "We know we must stay focused. We know that perhaps we don't have the best individual player quality, but we can be a very good team."

"That's what we showed today, and there are examples to show we won't let ourselves slack off. We're on the right path, but that's all it is."

"If we stop picking up points, the season could become long. With only eight points, we won't achieve our goals."

Daniel Farke's practice of delivering messages to players immediately after the final whistle is not new, but seeing him do so after such a significant victory was particularly striking. The manager is right not to count his chickens before they hatch, but equally he is right to acknowledge the team's achievements over the past nine months.

"This consistency is remarkable, we must say that, and it should also give us confidence for the future," he said at the press conference. So how high should Leeds United's current confidence be?

In the short term, they are the third-best team in the league in terms of results. Over a longer period, they are fifth-best. Newcastle United may have just changed managers, but they are still an established Premier League team with a group of excellent players, yet they were thrashed by Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday evening.

At this time last year, we considered one point per game Leeds United's survival line. Now they are steadily progressing at a rate of two points per game. It seems unlikely that Daniel Farke's team will maintain such efficiency in accumulating points, and 40 points and survival remain the openly stated targets, but this victory feels like a flag planted in West Yorkshire.

First, Leeds United earned 8 points from four matches, whereas in the same four matches last season they earned just 2 points. This is progress that optimists will welcome. In these four matches, we have also seen different sides of Leeds United.

In their first away match against Nottingham Forest, the team played somewhat sluggishly, but they could have secured a respectable 0-0 draw until a late Stach free-kick goal. The subsequent two 1-1 draws against Brentford and Brighton were like mirror images of each other.

Leeds United played well in one half of both matches, should have scored more than one goal in the first half, but also endured difficult periods and had to battle hard. They were resilient, difficult to break down, and showed determined fighting spirit.

Then came the Newcastle United match. The visiting team played poorly and was the weakest of the four opponents, but to what extent was this due to Leeds United's style of play? Leeds United looked like a well-oiled machine, and unlike the previous three matches, this time they completely dominated their opponent.

The hosts addressed two key issues identified in their previous match against Brighton and their 3-6 League Cup defeat to Chelsea. In those two matches, Leeds United created xG figures of 1.9 and 1.45 respectively in the first half, but scored only one goal in each. They should have made better use of their first-half advantages and ultimately were punished for it.

Against Newcastle United, they completely dominated their opponents, leaving the visitors with no chances to take anything from Elland Road. An xG figure of 2.08 over the entire match resulted in four goals, which underscores Leeds United's clinical finishing. It was a powerful team performance, and they always seemed first to every second ball and won every duel.

Although Trafford had some concern with two saves blocked by Wilfried Amoako, he made decisive saves and repeatedly cleared threats from set pieces. Elvetegi and Muharemovic were always in the right place at the right time in dangerous areas, clearing threats from Leeds United's half.

Justin, Bogle, and Gudmundsson created chaos with long runs from deep. Bogle was particularly active, covering the entire field. In midfield, Ampadu, Tanaka, and Stach dominated in winning possession, making tackles, and playing into the attacking third.

Okafor was unstoppable when attacking Newcastle United's defense, while Calvert-Lewin led the line with the dominance we have come to expect. When asked Monday evening how to prevent excessive excitement among supporters, Daniel Farke rightly pointed out the fine margins.

In the 41st minute, when the team was leading 2-0, Tanaka carelessly surrendered possession in midfield. Newcastle United immediately turned this into a shot on goal, and Muharemovic and Trafford together repelled the threat. Had the score become 2-1 at that moment, the course of the evening could have been completely different.

However, based on these 90 minutes and all the signs from the past nine months, Leeds United's second season in England's top division could also develop in a completely different direction than many expected.

Переведено ИИ.

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