00:00It's fair to say that Leeds United took a bit of a hammering away at Arsenal in the Premier League at the weekend.
00:065-0 was the final score and then their week did not get any better as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup on penalties away at Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
00:17So, going into their next Premier League fixture back at Elland Road against Newcastle United, things don't get any easier for Daniel Farker and his side.
00:25Newcastle, of course, are yet to win a game. Leeds have won a game, their opening fixture against Everton, but Newcastle have certainly looked good in their opening two fixtures of the Premier League.
00:36Drawing 0-0 against Aston Villa and then a 3-2 defeat against Liverpool, but they did come back against 10 men to make the game 2-2 towards the end of proceedings.
00:47And Daniel Farker has made it very clear he's been wary of Newcastle and understands that despite some of the players that they may have missing at Elland Road on Saturday evening,
00:57Newcastle will still maintain a huge threat to his side in what will be a very interesting game for all involved and all watching.
01:07So, from Leeds United's perspective, would they take a draw? Perhaps they would.
01:11But Daniel Farker, of course, would love the win, especially in front of his home fans and something to take into the international break, of course, with no games over that period.
01:21But let's hear what Farker had to say ahead of the Toons' visit to Elland Road.
01:26Yes, obviously, we were a bit disappointed after the cup result, but even on the way back to Leeds, we were already focused on Newcastle.
01:38We know that we have a tough start of the season in terms of fixtures to play on the first three game days.
01:45Again, straight away against two of the sides who have finished in the top four away game at Arsenal in their first home game and then home game against Newcastle.
01:55We know it's a tough start, but yes, sometimes you would wish to have this type of fixtures perhaps after a Champions League game for them,
02:03when then they're not so much on it and don't have a proper week also to prepare.
02:07And this time was a bit the other way around, the weird mid-week cup game.
02:13But sometimes you can't choose.
02:14And for that, we were working so hard in the last 24 months to be allowed to play on this level again
02:21and to play against the best sides of the Premier League.
02:24And for that, we are excited.
02:25We know that in one game, and especially in the home game at Elland Road,
02:31we always have a chance, even against the best sides.
02:33And for that, we want to prepare in the best possible way and are also excited about this game.
02:38Yes.
02:38You talk about playing the bigger teams, maybe when they're a little bit after a big game, perhaps a Champions League game.
02:44So Newcastle are going to be without Alexander Isak.
02:46Anthony Gordon got suspended the other night, a few injury problems as well.
02:51So they might not be full strength.
02:53Will you be looking to take advantage of that?
02:55Well, I've watched the game on Monday.
02:58I think it's fair to say they were with 11 men, the better side, and also with 10 men, the better side.
03:02And even after the red card, after Tonali was out, after Jules Linton was out,
03:06they were still the better side because they have also a squad in order to react when there are injuries.
03:12And it's a bit more the other way around.
03:15So for us, East Nampadu is not available for this game.
03:18Our Tanaka is not available for this game.
03:20We had them both available, really both key players for us.
03:23In the first game, fixture against Everton, we were there with a win.
03:27I think it's also fair to say perhaps in the last two games, for us, it's a bit more difficult to replace players of this caliber,
03:34at least for us, in comparison to a squad that is more or less equipped for playing in the Champions League for that.
03:41But I wouldn't interpret it too much into it.
03:44I think in this terms that key players are missing, it's quite even, for us, perhaps even a bit more difficult
03:50to replace our key players in comparison to the Newcastle squad.
03:55But sometimes you can't choose.
03:56And for that, we accept this as well.
03:58And we go with what we've got for this game and try to win as many points as possible.
04:02You talk about the strength of the squad.
04:04Four days left in the transfer window.
04:06Obviously, there's a couple of outgoings today, I believe, as well.
04:10But still looking to bring someone in, maybe, to the squad to help strengthen you going forward?
04:15We were always open and transparent of what we are doing.
04:19We wanted to strengthen on all positions.
04:22I think we have more or less in the defence, goalkeeper position, full-back position, central midfield,
04:27our additions that we wanted.
04:28And we made no secret out of this, that till the last day of the window,
04:32we will look also to strengthen our offence a bit more.
04:35We've done this in the past days, also with Dominic and with Noah.
04:40Yeah, but we're trying also perhaps in this area to strengthen our squad a bit more, yes.
04:44We'll see you next time.
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