Daniel Farke 'never in doubt' Leeds United would do one thing vs Newcastle United after Chelsea collapse
Leeds United bounced back from quickfire concessions at Chelsea to score three goals in 14 minutes on Monday night.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was ‘never in doubt’ his side would show a reaction to last week’s 6-3 defeat at Chelsea when hosting Newcastle United.
The Whites produced an utterly dominant performance to win 4-1 at Elland Road and climb into the Premier League’s top-four on Monday night. Lewis Miley’s own-goal kickstarted a brilliant 14-minute first-half period in which Farke’s side scored three times.
Leeds followed that own-goal up with a quickfire second, James Justin crossing for Dominic Calvert-Lewin whose header deflected off Jayden Bogle and in. Calvert-Lewin then got one of his own after working space following a brilliant Tarik Muharemovic flick.
Just five days after conceding four goals in 12 minutes at Chelsea, Leeds netted three of their own inside 14 minutes against a rocked Newcastle. Farke believes that Monday’s performance is a return to what his team has been doing for several months, with last week the anomaly.
“Yes, the goals today say something, Chelsea nothing at all if I’m honest,” Farke said. “With all respect, it was an early round tie in the league cup, we rotated a lot anyhow. We would never do this in this manner for a Premier League game.
“Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to lose this game at Chelsea. I think for 55 or 60 minutes we were also excellent and scored many goals and created many chances. At Stamford Bridge, our defensive behaviour was not spot on. It was just due to a bit like the setup we had.
“For me, it was never in doubt that we would return today to what we've shown over the recent, not just weeks and months, more or less like nearly years. Anyhow, we've delivered so many top performances and especially defensive performances in the league, in the whole pre-season against teams who are playing in the Champions League in Europe.”
Leeds refused to rest on that three-goal half-time lead either, coming out for the second-half with the same level of aggression. Noah Okafor volleyed home a fourth just before the hour mark with a late Bazoumana Touré consolation goal the only blot.
“I was full of confidence we could do more of the same if you're on it,” he added. “And you have to be on it against Newcastle. It's a dangerous side. They have so much quality and pace up front. They're so dangerous out of counter attacks with quick transitions today.
“It was crucial to have a good balance out of pressing them with intensity and pressure on the ball, but also to do it out of a good structure and especially good positioning in the last row because they play with so many long balls behind your last row.
“You can't be caught in one situation anymore, and we found a good balance out of high pressure, but also a good organization in our last row. I think this was key today.”