Daniel Farke pre Plymouth
We have a few players not available. Gray is definitely out. Some good news: not a ligament problem, just a hit and bruise, but not possible to join us in team training. Hopefully next week he will be back. Definitely out tomorrow. James out. Strain. Out for Bristol too. Couple of weeks I hope, back for next home game. Still without Struijk and the other topics.
James strain in adductor. Slipped during the game, Not too bad.
Resting them anyway?
First topic is taking this game seriously. We want a cup run. When we represnt Leeds we want to be at our best. Want to go throgh in the next roud, but won't do anything stupid. Third game in six days. This turnaround from late Wednsday and Saturday afternoon is trickier. More changes than expect in a league game.
Keep this run going. Important to find abakcnce between being greedy to win, btu not doing anything stupid to risk players. Necessary to find a good balance.
Cresswell
He was in training in the last weeks. Open and honest and professional. Agreed to use this window. Told him he won't be called up until he's ready to go and knows what he wants to do. Good conversations in the last days. He wants to stay and is erady for the fight. That's good news and the door is open. Clear it was up to him. I was not annoyed about this. It's understandable. Door is open for him to come back in.
Firpo
Had faith in him. Knew of his injury CV. Has been hard for him. Backed him and believed in him. Told him we would wait for him. He is back in training for a few weeks and in competitive games. Not his best shape yet, but getting there. Chipped in with many assists in recent weeks. Defensive solidity improving.
Plymouth
We prepare for this like any normal league game. What we have to do if we take it seriously. I owe my players. They need to be prepared in the perfect way. Full concentration. They played the last game with Gyabi and Forshaw, but neither are eligible. Difficult to predict. new manager not that long in charge. More difficult to prepare.
Must avoid replay?
I would definitely prefer a replay instead of losing the game. If we get a perfect delivery and Illan can attack it, I may do it, but before this Illan would have to convince me in training he can head the ball.
As you are or add before deadline day?
No sense to give my feeling yet. I have said which positions we could add to. Nothing has changed in these roles. We will see what the outcome is. We know we need some additions in some roles, but we have to stay within the rules.
Struijk and Gnonto?
Pascal out tomorrow and Bristol. After that is difficult to predict. He is having injection therapy. Doctors said it is clearer after next week.
Willy is back in training. Good. Trained yesterday intensely. Trained hard on Wednesday too. Available for this game.
Fringe players' freshness in the squad?
Yes, because momentum changes often. Injuries and illness move the squad around. Dips happen. The PL is the best league and the Champ is the toughest. Pressure because three teams can go up. You need depth in the squad. Junior, Patrick bring experience. This helps us. Ilia is in his first steps, but you can sense, when he had to deliver, he is a proper experience of Bundesliga.
Klopp energy - how draining is management?
First of all, on such a day, I have to say when I heard the message I was quite emotional. Jurgen is one of my German fellas. What he has done is unbelievable. Always speak about quality in the long term. Players are celebrated after one week. Managers can be celebrated after one season, but forme quality is over a long period. For more than 20 years, he has done this. Legacy and success to this club. Same with Dortmund, a German giant. What he has achieved is incredible. One of the greatest managers who has ever worked in this game. You could not be more successful than what he did with Liverpool. PL, Champions League. Won everything.
Jurgen is a world-class coach and a better human being. This is tough, but he achieves it. To find the moment to decide it yourself when you leave. Everyone is connected with Liverpool in tears about this. Says a lot about his legacy. To finish such a legacy on the height he is at. He goes with the biggest possible success after amazing years. Emotional day, sad, but happy he is in control of his fate.
What he said is this is the most demanding job in this world. So much expectation and so many people judge what you are doing. You are responsible for people having joy or suffering. Very demanding job.
If I am allowed to come close to what he has done at Leeds it would be amazing. He is outstanding.