Danny Cowley, manager of Colchester United, says he went to observe Daniel Farke in action at Leeds United’s training complex before Christmas.
Cowley was out of work at the time, having left Portsmouth in January of last year, and was clearly looking forward to seeing some of the best in the EFL in action before returning.
Farke has done a fantastic job at Elland Road since his hiring in the summer, and Leeds is currently in contention for the top two with 66 points from 32 matches.
The 47-year-old had to navigate a very difficult first window at Leeds, and he has received plaudits from around football for how he handled situations like Willy Gnonto.
Cowley spoke on the current episode of the BBC’s Football Daily Podcast, saying he was highly impressed with Farke and his staff’s efforts on training, as well as the level of respect he demands from the players.
Cowley is really impressed with Farke’s efforts.
He stated, “Nicky and I had the pleasure of spending a day in Leeds just before Christmas watching Daniel operate, and I was extremely impressed with him and his colleagues. It was the day before a game, and the work he did with the group was very engaging.
“A lot of that bunch has played for Bielsa and struggled under Marsch. Daniel did things considerably differently than Bielsa, yet the players held the same degree of respect for Daniel as they did for Marcelo. I observed a bunch that was highly cohesive, had a definite style of play, and were a serious threat offensively.”
Doubts about Farke began to sneak in after his sixth away defeat of the season against West Brom in December, but he has now quiet them with a seven-game league winning streak.
Leeds appear to be improving under his supervision, with Tuesday’s 4-0 annihilation of Swansea City ranking among the greatest performances of the season.
Farke has a reputation for driving high standards, and Leeds’ current run is reminiscent of what he did twice at Norwich City, which is why the 49ers signed him.
