Daniel Farke on bringing a winning mentality back to Elland
Putting a winning mentality back into Leeds United has been as much about asking his players to live like winners as play like them, according to manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds, Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town have established themselves as the four best teams in this season’s Championship, but separating them could be as much about mentality as ability.
The Foxes are nine points clear, suggesting a three-way battle for one automatic promotion place. Leeds go into Tuesday’s game at Swansea City a point behind Southampton and three ahead of Ipswich from a game more than both.
A top three of sides relegated from last season’s Premier League is not a great reflection on English football, particularly as they could easily swap places with the same three teams as last May, but says a lot for how their managers have addressed losing mindsets.
“When you want to have something to cheer about come next May, it’s more or less always the same mentality and patterns you have to instill, implement and improve,” said Farke, who has Daniel James available after injury but is likely to be without Sam Byram.
