Daniel Farke has made it clear what he believes is needed if Leeds United get promoted from the Championship this season, having learned the hard way with Norwich City.
If Leeds United is to gain promotion and stay in the Premier League, they will need to spend a lot of money on recruitment and contract renewals. Daniel Farke has given his clearest suggestion yet as to what 49ers Enterprises must do if the team is released from the EFL’s restraints in May.
The German has led Norwich City to two of the previous five Championship crowns, and some were surprised when he chose to return to England’s second division for a fourth season last summer. Farke had nothing left to prove at this level, but he signed with Elland Road and made it clear that his goal was to return to the top flight.
Today’s message to Elland Road’s chairman, Paraag Marathe, and the board could not have been more obvious. Leeds, if promoted, will need to spend heavily if they are to survive and maintain their Premier League status.
Farke was asked how significant the Championship championship was to teams in an era when promotion was virtually the be-all and end-all for ambitious second-tier clubs.
“That’s (promotion) the basic target and the most important topic,” he went on to say. “It’s great to lift some silverware. Thank goodness I have this sensation because it’s also a very traditional league with a very recognized cup.
“Whether you finish first in the league or gain promotion through the play-offs, the outcome is the same: you’ll play in the Premier League next season. “This is exactly what we wanted.”
The 47-year-old’s two victories with the Canaries were followed by a 20th-place result and then a sacking in November 2021, as the Norfolk club struggled again at the top level. Today, Farke highlighted the disparity in spending between Norwich, the champions, and Aston Villa, the play-off winners, following their promotions in 2019.
“Winning the title also doesn’t help in the next season,” he went on to say. “I recall my first promotion with Norwich. We [were] promoted as title winners with, I don’t know, 94 points, a club record, over 100 goals, and everyone was cheering us on, and we were permitted to lift the trophy and the silverware.
“Then we were promoted to the Premier League, and we opted to pay for our past crimes by not investing in infrastructure [or] extending player contracts, and we didn’t have the money to enhance the squad and help us the next season.
“This season, Aston Villa used the play-offs to return to the Premier League. So, obviously, they won less points and had to rely on the playoffs, but they were able to invest £150 million in the summer and another £40 million in the winter.
“They were able to keep their Premier League status on the final gameday. This was the season in which a Sheffield [United] goal was disallowed due to goal-line technology.
United appear to be on track to at least make the play-offs this season, but the league title is not out of reach, especially if they beat Leicester City on Friday night. Finally, Farke believes that the method by which Leeds arrive is irrelevant as long as they arrive.
“So, although they (Villa) were just using the play-offs, they had a better advantage to stay in this league because they were able to improve the squad,” he went on to say. “So the title did not help us the next season, but it is wonderful to have something in the club museum.
“For that, it’s very great, and it’s also a nice sensation to hold the trophy, but, as you indicated, the major point is to be there with promotion, which is the most important goal. Lifting the trophy is a lovely little reward, and I appreciated doing it, but it is not the major objective.”
