'Keep them grounded' - Kevin Nolan delivers Leeds United verdict as Daniel Farke's stance assessed
A former Premier League midfielder has weighed in on Leeds United’s Premier League prospects
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been hailed for keeping his players “grounded” by ex-Premier League midfielder Kevin Nolan.
Farke led the Whites to the Championship title in May 2025 before guiding them to safety in the top flight last season.
An ambitious summer of recruitment has sparked optimism in LS11, with fans hoping Leeds can live more comfortably this term.
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Kevin Nolan hails Daniel Farke approach
Farke is not the type to get carried away and Nolan, who represented the likes of Newcastle United and West Ham United as a box-crashing midfielder, has saluted the German’s approach.
He told BettingLounge: “I was listening to an interview with Daniel Farke and he was saying the first priority for Leeds is to ensure safety as quickly as possible before looking further ahead. Leeds haven't been in the top division for this long in 30 years, so people can't get carried away.
“You have to remind everyone and try to keep them grounded. I thought it was an excellent interview by him. I believe that for them, it’s about securing safety first, and then trying to build themselves up to get into the top 10.”
Top-half finish mooted
There may well be some fans dreaming of a push for European football - with Sunderland’s immediate ascent into the top seven serving as an example that expectations can be defied.
Nolan has suggested Leeds could push for the top half having secured a 14th-placed finish last season.
The 44-year-old said: “Can they nick a European spot and then build on the squad next summer? If not, I believe if they can get into the top 10 or thereabouts, that'll be a really strong season for them, especially after being out of the Premier League for so long.
“Let’s not try and run before we can walk, I think that's the message he's trying to get across. I believe that's the right message and the right track to be on.”