Leeds United boss Daniel Farke opens up on formation, Chelsea plan and Elland Road attitude

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke said it was always his plan to set up in the 3-5-2 shape that helped his side physically batter and best Chelsea at Elland Road.

The Whites were well worth their 3-1 victory, causing Chelsea problems all night despite having just 28.8 per cent of the possession. The early goal - Jaka Bijol's thumping header - was key and fired up Elland Road. Leeds could have gone two up had Pascal Struijk got his header on target but Ao Tanaka supplied a sublime finish just before the break to give the hosts a deserved cushion.

Chelsea hit back in the second half through substitute Pedro Neto but Leeds were undeterred and Noah Okafor's persistence paid off as he forced the ball under Robert Sanchez for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to tap home. Leeds remained a threat on the counter attack and were defensively disciplined, digging in to rebuff the visitors' attempts at a comeback.

For Farke the result was just reward not only for his players' efforts against the world champions but their home performances in general.

"It felt it was a long time coming and the players deserved to have a night like this," he said. "I can't really remember one poor home performance in the last 15 months. We've lost two games at home in 15 months against Spurs and Aston Villa and we were not the worst side in either. Many performances where we deserved more points. To bring both together tonight, an excellent performance and to be effective in the moments when we need to score, to win against one of the best sides in the world, fighting for the title in the Premier League, won the Club World Cup, unbelievable quality - of course they had more possession in spells but I would say it was deserved. We didn't give away one chance in the first half, didn't give any chances away after they scored. We scored three and could have been there with more.

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"I think we were the better side in the statistics and fully deserved to win this game. Great for the lads. This is why we wanted to be back in the big time and to have Elland Road rocking at its best. Great night for everyone involved with Leeds United."

Formations had become a huge talking point around the club, with calls from the fanbase for Farke to set up in a 3-5-2 growing by the week. He made that switch at half-time against Manchester City and it very nearly brought a point. It was not until the team sheet was published 75 minutes before kick-off that Farke's decision to stick with the back three was confirmed.

Daniel Farke on Leeds United formation switch

"I didn't want to give too much away before the game but the feeling was we had a really good second half in this shape and it would have felt difficult for the players if I changed again," he said. "I had it in my head anyway, Sebastiaan Bornauw was back - first minutes on the pitch, welcome to Leeds for him - and it fits and suits the style Chelsea plays. They're so good and dominant in possession and either you go really brave with high pressing or sit really deep, compact in a good shape and suffer a bit. It was in my plans anyway. Willy [Gnonto] more or less just back, Daniel James also out, both strikers in last games up to score. For me it was clear, although I didn't want to give too much away before the game because Enzo was questioning a little bit what we would do."

Farke is still keeping an open mind on how he will set the team up for future games and continues to list factors that could bring a change but admits it can suit Leeds.

"It can be [the plan going forward]," he said. "My football is never married with base formations, I'm addicted to principles. I like when we dominate a league, like we did last season, not to change too much and to give players clarity in the processes. But when you have a team who is not the best in terms of individual quality you have to sometimes mirror the opponent. It was clear we had to be way more flexible than we were last season. It can be a fitting formation. It depends on how the opponent plays, which players are in form and ready to go, if you want to surprise an opponent. We have a few with knocks, some doubts and I have to monitor some who started if they're ready to start again - third game in seven days. Many things we have to take in mind for the Liverpool game and we go from there. It's important for us to be unpredictable."

Though he has come under heavy scrutiny of late, Farke sensed that Elland Road was fully behind him and his side when they kicked off against Chelsea and wants the same atmosphere on Saturday against Liverpool.

"I didn't have the feeling at all that we were not one unity today," he said. "I think Elland Road was back at his best from the first to the last second. I didn't [hear] any negative comments. I didn't see any doubts, apart from the guy behind my bench - he was not happy when we had to defend a little bit in the first half but after the 2-0 he was dancing and then wanted to cheer with me. Listen, I would love to just attack but sometimes against Chelsea but we have to defend as well. We are such a passionate club. We are a club on a mission, and this club wants to establish itself on this top level. And we just can do this with our supporters. I want more from the same especially once we play on Saturday against another top side, Liverpool."