I’M FARKE RAVING MAD

Leeds boss on the warpath after his side told to play four matches in just 10 days

LEEDS boss Daniel Farke claims he is worried about the health of his players after they were ordered to play four games in 10 punishing days.

Leeds’ gruelling run starts at Chelsea on Wednesday, February 28, in the FA Cup and then they are at Huddersfield on the Saturday for a 12.30pm kick-off. That’s followed by Stoke at home on the Tuesday and a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on the Friday.

Farke (above) claims the game’s authorities cannot ask teams to promote mental wellbeing and then tell them to play so many matches in such a short space of time.

“I know it’s a difficult topic because we all get the benefits from TV and broadcasters because they bring so much money to the table, but sometimes I think enough is enough,” he said.

“This team is attractive and everyone wants to see us playing football, that’s great. But there should also be a bit of fair play. We have four games within 10 days and three of them are away, with, by the way, the earliest possible kickoff on the Saturday.

“It’s ridiculous that there’s no willingness to see the bigger picture because we have these mental-health awareness days. On matchdays we wear this nice little coloured sticker to promote well-being for players and coaches and staff members but, when it comes down to business, it doesn’t matter.

“This is what I’m struggling to understand.

I’m fully aware of the necessities and I have full of respect for the broadcasters, who have their jobs to do. But we must see the bigger picture.

“It’s just feels unfair. Someone needs to see the bigger picture and see that this is against the welfare of the players and the staff.”

Farke, who has won the Championship Manager of the Month for a second time after Leeds won all four games in January, is wary of today’s visitors to Elland Road. Rotherham may be bottom of the Championship, with no away wins to their credit, but Farke remembers they held Leeds to a draw in November. “It feels like their starting lineup has 4,000 Championship games on its CV – they are one of the most experienced sides in this league,” he said.

“They haven’t had many wins in their recent fixtures but they have had several draws and their losses were only by one or two goals maximum, it’s not like they were blown out of the park.

“We’ve had a tough load this week with games and we have to make sure we deliver.”

Since drawing 1-1 with Leeds back on November 24, Rotherham have played 12 Championship matches. Of those 12 they have lost seven and drawn four, their only win in that sequence coming against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

In five of their last eight fixtures, including an FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Fulham, they have failed to score.

They are bottom of the Championship, a full 12 points away from safety.