Leeds United returned to the Premier League this season after winning promotion from the Championship, and their first campaign back in the top flight has been anything but a smooth ride. The club currently sit on 36 points from 32 games, recording eight wins, 12 draws, and 12defeats across the season.
For long stretches of the year, the threat of dropping straight back down hung heavily over Elland Road, with inconsistent performances and a frustrating lack of goals sparking genuine worry among the fans. Then came Old Trafford on the 13th of April, and the tide finally turned.
Noah Okafor gives Leeds United their most memorable result of the season
Noah Okafor wrote himself into club history by scoring a brace at Old Trafford, giving Leeds United their first Premier League win against Manchester United in over 23 years. That 2-1 victory moved Leeds six points clear of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur, who occupy one of the three relegation spots. The result felt massive, not just because of the scoreline, but because of how they played, composed, organised, and clearly well-drilled.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, agreed with that assessment, noting that Leeds have lost only two of their last ten matches and look like a different team compared to others fighting for survival.
Brown added that the board has already moved on from earlier doubts about Daniel Farke, suggesting that planning for next season with the German in charge began well before the final whistle at Old Trafford. Farke had faced plenty of heat from fans over the team’s attacking style, yet the recent results and performances now make a very strong case in his favour.
“There had been calls for Farke to be let go amid concerns about the style of play and the lack of a goalscoring threat, but Leeds are now unlikely to change managers. “Leeds record has been fantastic of late,” Brown told Football Insider.
“They’ve only lost two games in their last ten, and when you see the way they played against Man United compared to other relegation-threatened sides, they’re worlds apart.
“They’ll be alright now, they played very, very well against Man United and collectively as a team they have enough to get over the line.
“That’s thanks in large part to Daniel Farke and the job he’s done there this season.
“I know we spoke before about whether he could be sacked, the fans weren’t happy with a couple of things and the board had some question marks.
“Those suggestions can be scrapped now, I expect they’ve already made a decision and they’ll want to stick with him next season.
“If he can keep up this form with them being hard to beat and maybe add a bit of quality to the squad, I’m sure he’s the right man to keep taking them forward.”
Does Daniel Farke deserve to lead Leeds United into next season?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The answer, without much hesitation, is yes. Farke took charge of a newly promoted side facing the massive jump in Premier League quality, and he built a unit that actually holds up under pressure. Critics pointed to the lack of a natural goalscorer and a cautious style, fair points at the time, but football management rarely rewards knee-jerk reactions, especially with promoted clubs that don’t have the massive budgets of the league’s heavy hitters.
The form Leeds United carry into April shows grit, tactical discipline, and a clear identity that many clubs with much deeper squads just don’t have. Farke steered Norwich City to two Championship titles, and he clearly knows how to build a team from the ground up. Keeping him, adding the right players in the summer, and sticking with the plan is the most sensible path forward for a club that have dealt with way too much chaos in recent years. Leeds United finally look stable, and Daniel Farke is the main reason why.
