Daniel Farke receives Premier League recognition for historic Leeds United period
The Leeds United boss has enjoyed a brilliant month of April in charge at Elland Road.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been nominated for April’s Premier League Manager of the Month following a brilliant run of form.
Farke guided Leeds to within touching distance of Premier League safety thanks to an excellent run of results through April. His side recorded consecutive wins for the first time all season against Manchester United and Wolves before a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last week.
That 2-1 win in Manchester was historic as Leeds’ first league triumph at Old Trafford since 1981. Having taken seven points from nine on offer, Farke’s side reached the hallowed 40-point mark and it now feels they are just one win away from guaranteeing their Premier League status for another year.
Farke has now been rewarded for his efforts with a place on April’s seven-man Manager of the Month shortlist. He is joined by a couple of relegation rivals too, with West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest’s Vitor Pereira nominated having also both taken seven points from three games.
Manchester City and Liverpool both took maximum points through April, with their respective managers Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot both nominated. Andoni Iraola, whose Bournemouth side hosted Leeds last week, is on the seven-man shortlist as is Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler.
Voting is now open and will remain so until 12pm on Monday, May 4. The results of that vote will be combined with the judgement of a panel of experts to determine the winner.
Two Leeds United nominations as Premier League safety beckons
Leeds could claim a double this month with Farke’s talismanic attacker Noah Okafor nominated for April’s Premier League Player of the Month. The Swiss international scored both goals in that historic Old Trafford victory before registering a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over Wolves a few days later.
Farke will hope to reach the next major milestone in this brilliant Leeds season on Friday night. Victory over Burnley would take the Whites onto 43 points, a tally that has never results in relegation from a 20-team Premier League.
“We have shown in last games the desire,” Farke said on Thursday. “We want to keep going but very respectful. Focused and concentrated, 12 more points to fight for. We are highly motivated to win one or three points.
“One more win will ease the pressure, more relaxed when you don’t have to travel on the last day needing points. The earlier we win points, the better it will be.”
Friday-night opponents Burnley will have a new face in the dugout at Elland Road, with Mike Jackson named as interim boss following the exit of Scott Parker on Thursday. The Clarets were officially relegated following last week’s 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City and have won just four league games all season.