Farke: Men against boys too often

DANIEL FARKE last night apologised to Norwich fans after their relegation was confirmed by a thumping 4-0 home defeat against West Ham.

The Norwich manager claimed his team began the season with only a five per cent chance of staying up after barely spending a penny following their promotion last season.

Too often this season, he admitted, they have been involved in games that have ended up being ‘men against boys’, including yesterday’s rout. Farke said: ‘I feel really sorry, especially for our fans and everyone connected with this amazing club that we were not able to work another miracle.

‘We can only apologise for that. They deserve all the miracles and joy we can bring them. It’s a disappointing day.

‘We would have had a five per cent chance of staying up but you need a perfect start to the season so self-confidence grows.

‘You need also a bit of luck in terms of injuries, a bit of luck that your key players are not injured and always in great shape. You need a bit of game luck.

‘We have showed several times this season that once each and every player is there, with a 100 per cent level, we are able to win points, even against the best sides. But you’re not that often able to overachieve. At times, with all respect to my players, with this group of players, it looks at this level like a game of men against boys.’

As he reflected on his previous ‘miracles’, Farke highlighted his first season in charge at Norwich in which he helped develop James Maddison — before he was sold to Leicester for £22.5million.

‘Without selling him, it would have been unbelievably doubtful that the club would be going right now,’ Farke said.

Norwich are now on a much firmer financial footing, he insisted, leaving him confident they can retain young prized assets such as defenders Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey, Jamal Lewis and midfielder Todd Cantwell.

‘We are in a pretty solid financial situation so no pressure at all,’ he said. ‘I am pretty confident we can keep our best players,’

Farke, whose current deal expires in 2022, insisted he will be staying on next season, adding: ‘I am here on a long-term contract.’