Daniel Farke explains why he was ‘furious’ with Leeds United star Ao Tanaka during Chelsea win…

Daniel Farke elaborates on his feelings of ‘anger’ towards Leeds United player Ao Tanaka during the victory over Chelsea.

Farke displayed visible emotion on the Elland Road pitch at the conclusion of the match, remaining near the center circle as he observed his Leeds United players receiving the fans’ applause.

The German manager has faced significant pressure, with reports suggesting that a loss against Chelsea could have led to his dismissal. Paraag Marathe was present at Elland Road last night.

However, Farke successfully outmaneuvered Enzo Maresca, and his 3-5-2 formation functioned flawlessly against Chelsea on Wednesday evening. Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all found the net for Leeds last night.

For the time being, the pressure on Farke has eased, with Leeds averaging a point per game after 14 matches. Following a solid victory, Farke tends to be more at ease during press conferences, and last night was no exception.

Daniel Farke discusses his ‘anger’ towards Ao Tanaka

In the meantime, Ao Tanaka is adapting to a slightly different role within this 3-5-2 setup. The Japanese international is operating almost as a no.10, positioned ahead of Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach, and he performed admirably last night.

However, prior to his remarkable goal, Tanaka squandered a few opportunities, misfiring a left-footed shot and failing to connect with teammates in advantageous positions. Farke admitted he was “furious” with Tanaka.

These are comments that Farke likely would not have made in front of the media had Leeds not secured a positive result. The Leeds manager shared with TalkSPORT that he was initially dissatisfied with Tanaka’s performance in the attacking third.

“Even before [Tanaka’s goal], he was involved in three or four situations near the box where he made poor decisions. I was genuinely a bit furious, but he eased my concerns with that fantastic strike.”

Ao Tanaka’s performance metrics indicate he contributed significantly last night.

If there were any doubts regarding Tanaka’s abilities at this level, he dispelled them last night. As the season commenced, there were worries among Leeds staff that Tanaka might lack the necessary physicality.

According to Stuart Dallas, Tanaka has been quite critical of his own performance.

However, his statistics against Chelsea demonstrate that he is making a significant contribution both defensively and in the attacking phase, aside from his stunning goal.

Tanaka has become one of the key players in the lineup, particularly with Sean Longstaff sidelined due to injury.

Leeds will face Liverpool next, a match in which the Whites believe they can secure a positive outcome considering Liverpool’s poor form.