Daniel Farke says next four games can ease pressure on Leeds United's 'crunch time'
Daniel Farke is looking at Leeds United's next four matches as an opportunity to ease the pressure on what he sees as the real "crunch time" – and paying no attention to anyone else's, he insists.
The Whites host Norwich City on Sunday with the chance to reach their first FA Cup quarter-finals for 23 years. But the reality is Premier League survival is the be-all and end-all for the newly-promoted side.
Those hopes took a dent with the first back-to-back home defeats of Farke's managerial tenure, 1-0 to Manchester City and Sunderland, whilst West Ham United (three) and Nottingham Forest (one) picked up valuable away points.
But Farke says he is remaining calm, and not too interested what others are doing because he believes Leeds can win the points they need in the season’s final six matches. The three league games before are an opportunity to make the task easier.
"I'm calm as always," he said, when asked about the situation at the bottom of the Premier League.
"That (Tuesday) was perhaps the first disappointing night at Elland Road since... perhaps even the first disappointing night during the whole season or at least for months.
"A bit was missing in the final third but we played against a side (Sunderland) who are right now on 40 points, so not easy to beat.
"If you play the same game 20 times, I guarantee you we win 16 times, we all know it. Two or three times you have to settle for a point and there is one time when the opponent wins.
"Why should I be worried? I trust my players, I trust this group, we have done excellently.
"I also don't agree that results on other pitches were going against us because the only thing that matters are our results.
“It's always good fun to analyse the other results but I'm not nailbiting sitting on my sofa hoping West Ham should lose, Tottenham lose.
"The only thing that matters is what we do.
"We are on 31 points. You need in the end probably 38 to stay in this league, perhaps it's one of these extraordinary seasons when you need perhaps one or two points more.
"We need seven to perhaps even nine points because we have three teams (directly) below us in the table (Tottenham, Forest and West Ham) who have less than 30 points.
"In the run-in it's not like all three teams will win at least five games.
"For me, the 'crunch-time' period of the season is the last six games. We have all the chances in the last six games to win the seven to nine points we need, but three games where we could win points before.
"We have Crystal Palace away (March 15), a home game against Brantford (21st) and Man United away (April 13) to ease the pressure.
"All that we have shown so far gives me lots of confidence and lots of belief in the group.
"I'm confident we have more than enough to win the points in the end."
The cup offers a change of scenery and perhaps personnel.
"Every positive result is good for confidence and momentum but for two or three days we put the league to the side," said Farke, banned from the touchline after reluctantly accepting an FA charge for running onto the pitch to confront referee Peter Bankes after the City defeat.
"Cup games are always different because they're do-or-die games. Everyone is highly motivated to deliver a good performance against a very dangerous opponent. We expect a difficult game but nevertheless we want to go through."
Like the game against Pep Guardiola's side, Sunday's will feature a break for players observing Ramadan, including Leeds' Joel Piroe, to break their fast. Leeds are anxious to avoid a repeat of the booing that day.
They called it "disappointing and unexpected," but acknowledged the pause ought to have been better communicated in advance.
The sun is due to set at around 5.56pm, late in the 4.30pm game.
"Leeds United Football Club explicitly condemn any supporters in the home or away sections who actively boo players observing Ramadan and use the protocol to break their fast," said a statement.