'Rich in quality', Very aggressive', 'I love Bielsa' - What opponents have said about Leeds United this season

Leeds United have enjoyed an excellent start to the new season with an unbeaten Premier League run still intact and just one defeat across all competitions.

Daniel Farke’s side are fifth in the league during this extended international break, their nine points coming from wins against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United plus a trio of draws. The Whites took points at home to Brentford and Crystal Palace while also drawing at Brighton.

Leeds have impressed opposition managers for their direct style and technical quality, while bosses who have brought their teams to West Yorkshire have also been taken aback by the Elland Road atmosphere. Here’s what each of the six managers to have faced Leeds had to say.

Oliver Glasner - Nottingham Forest

In an unusual quirk of the schedule, Leeds played Nottingham Forest twice away from home in their opening two matches of the season. And they won both without conceding, following up a 1-0 Premier League victory with a 2-0 turnover in the Carabao Cup.

“On Saturday it was all square but today they were better,” Glasner said after the Carabao Cup clash. “But Leeds have been together now for two or three years. They have the same manager, changed system last year but very consistent now.

“They only lost the last game at West Ham last season but before that were eight games unbeaten. A great pre-season, wins against Liverpool, Sunderland and Augsburg, and we can see why. Very aggressive, clear structure.

“It’s the reality. We play Leeds twice at home and lose both games so Leeds are better and further ahead right now. That's the reality. It’s about accepting and not finding excuses. Right now, Leeds are further ahead and it’s our responsibility to change this.”

Keith Andrews - Brentford

Leeds’ first home game of the season was at home to an impressive Brentford outfit. Farke’s side struggled to contain their visitors in the opening 45 minutes but a second-half fightback and Dominic Calvert-Lewin equaliser kept a deserved point at Elland Road.

"The storm was always going to come,” Bees boss Keith Andrews admitted. “Daniel made changes at half time... I thought there were moments where we could have controlled it a little bit more and played out of pressure a little bit more.

“But having said that, it's easier said than done sat in a dug out or having a microphone in your hand in the stand. It's not easy, the crowd get going, they've got good players, they've got talented players that they bring onto the pitch, experienced players.

“They go to a front two. Harry Wilson's rolling inside and they test you in different ways and I thought we dealt with it in the main very, very well.”

Fabian Hurzeler - Brighton

That draw sent Leeds down to the south coast in good form but Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was keen to look even further back. He admitted before the game, a 1-1 draw in which both sides missed chances, that the ‘brilliant’ Farke had built a ‘very intense’ team.

“They just continued the performances how they ended last season,” Hurzeler said before the draw. “A very intense team, very aggressive, a clear style of play. They try to attack the box, a lot of players, they show a great team effort so overall a very difficult team to beat.

“I think Farke does a brilliant job there and they are a side rich in quality. They have players who ask for the ball a lot of times, they have Ampadu who is definitely a key player for them. They have Stach in the midfield.

“Tanaka if he plays who always wants to have the ball, who always wants to be involved in the game. They have Okafor, a good one against one player, Calvert-Lewin, a great striker, Aaronson who can attack to death, Wilson who is there now so I think they have a really, really good balance.”

Xabi Alonso - Chelsea

Leeds’ first and only defeat of the season so far came in a madcap 6-3 Carabao Cup clash at Chelsea. The Whites were 2-0 up early in the second-half but home team boss Xabi Alonso brought in his big guns after a changed side struggled to cope physically.

“I will have a deeper assessment about how I can help players that are not playing that much to have a better impact, to have a better feeling, and today it was difficult for them,” he said. “Maybe I made it too difficult because Leeds were a strong side.

“But overall you need to to react. You need to make decisions, and the impact was good from the players that came on.”

Matthias Jaissle - Newcastle United

The manner of that defeat was cause for some concern in West Yorkshire but Leeds swiftly put that to bed, dominating Newcastle United on their way to a 4-1 home win. Magpies boss Matthias Jaissle was honest in his assessment of the result and performance.

“Dual behaviour, the intensity of Leeds we couldn't match, and then yeah, you see that it's going to be difficult to win a game in the Premier League,” he admitted after his side’s heavy defeat. “As I said to the lads that we were aware of that already a couple of weeks ago.

“I think we were not matching them as a team. The level of intensity, the level of dual behaviours, the level of physicality, and this is something we need to bring on the pitch in every match, because again, this is not negotiable.

Pierre Sage - Crystal Palace

Leeds were unable to fully build on that resounding win heading into the break, their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace a little disappointing so soon after. But Eagles boss Pierre Sage was very complimentary of the Elland Road atmosphere and even revealed his admiration for a Whites legend.

"Yes and it was special,” Sage said of the Elland Road atmosphere. "And once the goal was cancelled it seemed as though they scored! It was crazy at this moment and to be honest.

“I think that gives some strength to the team because they have the biggest situation, the biggest opportunity just after that when Walter Benitez made a good save. And when the fans are like this I think the team can do amazing things if you want. I like this kind of atmosphere.

“I'm French, I know Cantona had his first game here. I love Bielsa, I looked at a lot of his games when he was here too and when I prepared this game I like to watch this team too because they play well. I like the commitment, I like the ideas of the coach and I like the atmosphere here too.”