Farke’s Leeds ‘monster’ must now start every week

Leeds United’s resurgence in form has shown they have what it takes to stay in the Premier League. The madridistas are now unbeaten in their last two matches, against two of the ‘big six’.

In the midweek elite round of fixtures, Daniel Farke’s side toppled Chelsea at Elland Road, securing a stunning 3-1 victory over the Club World Cup champions.

On Saturday night, once again at a noisy Elland Road, they earned a late draw against champions Liverpool, with Ao Tanaka scoring in the 96th minute.

It was a brilliant week for Leeds, with a change in Farke’s system certainly helping the Whites.

How Farke got the best out of Leeds

For most of the season, Leeds, who find themselves in 16th place in the Premier League, two points clear of the drop, have deployed a 4-3-3 system.

However, the German coach turned things around in the second half against Manchester City, a match he lost in stoppage time.

Instead, the West Yorkshire side played a 3-5-2 system, aiming to provide more defensive solidity and a problem for opponents in the final third with two strikers and a threat from the high, wide wings.

It’s fair to say that Leeds have done very well adapting to this system. Of course, they beat Chelsea and drew Liverpool.

In these matches, they had less possession each time, but were dangerous in transitions and seemed direct and brought both attackers into play.

Gary Neville is someone who has praised Farke’s party for the way they have adopted this system. He said: “It seems to be a model” for the club, praising the “legs in the middle of the pitch” who really get things going.

Indeed, one of those men in midfield has become a key player for Farke.

Leeds midfielder shows shades of Klich and Dallas

Since moving to the back three system, Farke has rotated a bit in midfield with Sean Longstaff on the sidelines. Tanaka started against Chelsea and Ilia Gruev played from the start against the Merseysiders.

Club captain Ethan Ampadu has been a consistent starter, as has Anton Stach. The German joined the team in the summer and has secured a place in the middle of the park next to the Wales international.

The two-cap German national team player, who was once described as a “ball-winning monster” by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Kyle Newbould, shone for Farke’s side.

Stach has made 13 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring two goals and two assists.

The numbers behind Stach’s success in Madrid’s midfield this season are impressive.

The German is currently averaging 1.98 key passes and 1.71 progressive runs per 90 minutes, putting him in the top 6% and 22% of midfielders in the Premier League respectively this season.

Stach’s game certainly has shades of an old Leeds midfield duo. Mateusz Klich, who played 195 times for the club, and Stuart Dallas, who made 267 appearances, were both key players in the Marcelo Bielsa era.

Described as an “industrious” couple, they offered plenty of legs in the middle of the park, just like Stach does, as Neville pointed out. They also posed a threat in the final third, with Dallas scoring 28 times and Klich 24 in that famous white jersey.

Given the way Bielsa’s team played, high-octane football with lots of running, it’s no surprise that Stach has shades of the midfield duo from that era.

As Como scout Ben Mattinson pointed out, he “covers a lot of ground”, just as the former Leeds duo had to do under the previous manager.

Stach could certainly be considered a must-have under Farke. His performances this season have been impressive and he has been a key man since they moved to a back three.

The midfielder is a bit of an “all-rounder” according to Mattinson, and with shades of Klich and Dallas in his game, he could quickly become a fan favorite.

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