“Daniel Farke’s Regret: The Huge Mistake He Made with Leeds United’s £4m Star at QPR
If Daniel Farke had the chance to do it over, he might have set up Leeds United a bit differently during Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers.
As Marti Cifuentes’ side raced into a two-goal lead inside the first half hour, thanks to a brilliant Koki Saito strike and an unmarked Steve Cook header, the Leeds supporters in the stands might have feared another heavy defeat, reminiscent of the 4-0 loss at Loftus Road in April 2024.
However, Leeds came out strong after the break, with Morgan Fox’s own goal halving the deficit before Jayden Bogle equalized in the 51st minute. This second-half fightback highlighted the resilience Farke has instilled in the team.
Leeds had already proven their ability to come from behind in previous matches, having recovered from 1-0 down to beat both Sunderland and Sheffield United. But despite their efforts, they fell just short of securing all three points this time. Farke also noted that players like Brenden Aaronson struggled once again, although he still believed the context of the 2-2 draw made it a positive result overall.
In his post-match interview, Farke admitted he regretted a decision made earlier that day. He’d considered bringing Ilia Gruev into the midfield but ultimately opted for Joe Rothwell instead. While Rothwell had been excellent in Leeds’ midweek win against Millwall, he struggled to impose himself at QPR, where the home side’s physicality caused problems right from the start.
Farke speculated that Gruev could have helped Leeds better cope with the physical challenge. “I wasn’t entirely happy with myself,” he confessed. “I spent a lot of time thinking whether to play Gruev for his defensive presence and resilience. The medical staff gave me the green light, and I got a bit greedy, wanting to dominate the game. When you go 2-0 down, you have to take risks. It was too late for Gruev to make an impact.”
Reflecting on the game, Farke also acknowledged the difficulties Leeds faced in the early stages. QPR had a strong home record against Leeds, winning five of their last six meetings at Loftus Road, and Leeds have often struggled with early kick-offs and away games in London.
“As a club, we don’t have the best record here,” Farke said. “I wouldn’t have taken a draw before the game, but after going 2-0 down, to come back and get a point—it’s a good result, especially given the circumstances of playing our third game in a week.”
Farke admitted that QPR deserved to be ahead after the first 35 minutes, with Leeds giving away easy chances and reacting too late. However, he was pleased with the team’s response in the second half. “We showed resilience. QPR are always a dangerous side at home with their counter-attacks. It’s a good point on the road.”
