Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri told to 'step up' by Daniel Farke after costly errors
Daniel Farke has told Lucas Perri to up his game after costly mistakes in Leeds United's last two matches, but refused to say he was adding a new goalkeeper to his January shopping list.
Perri will miss Sunday's FA Cup tie at Derby County, but to give Karl Darlow some much-needed game-time in a rotated team after a busy Festive period.
Farke’s selection for the next Premier League game, against Fulham on January 17, will be more telling, and he was not giving any clues to that when he addressed the media on Thursday.
The Leeds manager publicly blamed Perri for Matheus Cunha's equaliser for Manchester United and Harvey Barnes' 112th-minute Newcastle United winner after the Whites' last two matches.
“The last two games Lucas had a few situations where his decision-making was not great or there was the situation in the last minute (at St James' Park) where he could make a save,” said Farke. “It's important not to hide this and talk some nonsense.
“The most important thing is to hold your hand up. He should have done better.
“It's his first season in English football and regardless of the level you've played (he was previously at Ligue 1 Lyon), you have to adapt to the physicality in the box and to the intensity in the pressing.
“He arrived relatively late in pre-season, he had an injury during pre-season and an injury early in the season.
“He's such a nice human being, everyone wants him to do well but it's important in this position to deliver properly.
“He knows he has to step up. We need better performances in this position.”
Farke will err on the side of caution at Derby, with Jayden Bogle likely to miss out, and doubts over Joe Rodon, Anton Stach and Brenden Aaronson, who went off with cramp on Wednesday.