Daniel Farke was pleased with Leeds United’s performance in their emphatic 3-0 win over Norwich City in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round encounter.
The Whites bounced back to form with a superb display in front of their home fans as they reached the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2003.
Leeds took full control of the first half and scored through Luca Nmetcha, but the strike was ruled out for a handball in the buildup against Willy Gnonto.
They got their deserved goal in the 32nd minute as Sean Longstaff got on the end of a pull back from Gnonto and fired into the net.
Farke, who was serving a one-game touchline ban after his confrontation with the officials during Leeds United defeat against Manchester City, hailed his side for their superb performance.
“We were the favourites today but you only have to look at what happened elsewhere. Teams around us in the [Premier League] table rotated today and went out”, Farke stated.
“I can’t complain at all. Important minutes in the tank for some players and able to rest others.
“Sometimes it is OK if you have two or three changes to a team with core bones. If you rotate in nine positions you need time. We deserved to be 2-0 up. Second half the game-management could at times have been better but, in general, we didn’t allow many chances.”
Gnonto then had an effort ruled out for offside, before Gabriel Gudmundsson added a second two minutes before the break.
Joe Piroe struck the crossbar with an effort in the second half, before firing in their third after a swift counter-attack to seal the 3-0 win.
“It was an important win for us. A win is always good for the confidence. The spirit in the group, everyone keeps going. Today some players had the chance to shine and it is important for us as a group”, Farke added.
“Apart from us just seven other teams can win the FA Cup. It is maybe not realistic for us. We are on a good path and we are looking forward to our upcoming games and important weeks for us.’
Leeds will find out their last eight opponent when the draw is conducted on Monday night, with some Premier League heavyweights also in contention.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
