“This club is bigger than any player, I’m not begging anyone to play for us, I only need players who are fully committed to defend the shirt”- Daniel Farke sends strong message to wantaway Leeds players as he threatens to bar them from Training with club
Daniel Farke says wantaway players will be barred from training with Leeds
The club fell to a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham with Wilfried Gnonto absent
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Leeds boss Daniel Farke said he would effectively bar wantaway players from training as he admitted their desire to leave was damaging the mood in his squad.
Farke’s team have taken only one point from their opening two matches and were beaten by a last-minute penalty from Lukas Jutkiewicz at Birmingham on Saturday.
Travelling fans voiced their anger at Wilfried Gnonto, who was not in the squad as he seeks a move away. Luis Sinisterra was another who did not travel and Farke hinted the Colombian was in the same boat as Gnonto. They are not the only ones who could depart with injured duo Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison also wanted by top-flight clubs.
Farke said: ‘It’s quite normal that transfer speculation affects other players. They are not living on the Moon and these situations don’t make life easy for the group.
‘I want a group fully focused and committed. This club is bigger than any player or manager or board member. I’m not begging anyone ‘Please play for us’. The club too big.
‘If player doesn’t want to be with us they can train alone and use their own dressing room. I need players who are fully committed to defend the shirt.
‘Sinisterra was not available and there will be a time to speak about this topic. I don’t judge or explain it more.’
Leeds had only seven players on the bench, including two goalkeepers, and Farke hinted he had left others behind due to their attitude.
The German twice led Norwich to promotion and took charge at Elland Road this summer fully aware of the size of the task.
He added: ‘I have to feel you are fully committed. If I’m not happy with the training performance of a player I don’t pick him for the squad. I’d rather travel with three goalkeepers. I need to see commitment.
‘This situation is what I expected. Relegation is never easy. There is a hangover, players are used to disappointing results. We knew the start would be bumpy and tricky and it’s not the easiest job at the moment – but if it was easy, it wouldn’t be so much fun to turn it around.
‘We need a bit more experience and quality but I don’t complain. When I signed, I knew what the task would be.’
Luis Sinisterra also did not travel to Birmingham, and Farke hinted that it was a similar story
