West Ham and Leeds are preparing to face each other in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Farke’s Perspective on the Match
Daniel Farke has shared his thoughts before the match. He stated that it is not ideal for a team to have three weeks without a competitive game at this stage of the season. He mentioned that some players were active during the international break, justifying the decision to rest others.
Farke emphasized the significance of the FA Cup for Leeds, noting that it has been over two decades since the team reached the quarter-finals. He also addressed Leeds’ recent scoring record, acknowledging that every team experiences periods of scoring and struggling during a long season. He highlighted the importance of the team’s three clean sheets in a row.
Farke understands the financial implications for Leeds, holding an MA in economics and a diploma in sporting directorship. He recognizes that avoiding relegation is more important financially than winning the FA Cup. Farke said the Premier League is the priority.
Team Lineups and Changes
Both managers have selected XIs that are not at full strength. West Ham has made five changes, while Leeds has made three.
West Ham’s changes include Alphonse Areola, Kyle Walker-Peters, Max Kilman, Soungoutou Magassa and Adama Traore replacing Mads Hermansen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kostas Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek and Pablo.
Lucas Perri, Ao Tanaka and Noah Okafor will start for Leeds in place of Karl Darlow, Brendon Aaronson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
- West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola; Walker-Peters, Kilman, Disasi, Diouf; Magassa, Potts; Bowen, Fernandes, Traore; Castellanos.
- Leeds United (3-4-1-2): Lucas Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Justin; Tanaka; Okafor, Nmecha.
Fan Perspective
Gary Stover writes, “If ‘both teams could arguably do without this game’, then the FA Cup has fallen in importance even more than I thought. Would the fans like to see a Leeds-Chelsea rematch at Wembley even if only a semi-final? Would the Southampton followers rather finish sixth in the Championship or go back to a final at Wembley? Hopefully the players of all five teams left will simply try to do what they do best and win whatever game is before them. I actually think that’s what will happen.”
Daniel Farke also enjoys literary fiction, with Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude among his favourite novels.