Daniel Farke pre Chelsea

DF on Leicester
After such a game, there were lots of emotions. I am very, very tired. The players have recovered and we are heading into a very busy period. We need all the energy. It was important in the last few days to calm the load down. The load will be immense over the next couple of weeks.

We head into a new week with confidence and a smile on our faces.


DF on Chelsea
I don't think (them losing in the final) will help. I expect they will be very, very focused on this game. It is their best chance to play in Europe next season. I think they are highly motivated for this game.

We would like to extend our cup run. I don't think the result will make our life easier. I think it will be more complicated.


DF on United's FA Cup record
The FA Cup is the competition with the biggest history in Western Europe. It has the same priority as the league. We want to represent our club in the best possible way.

We are in the crunch time in trying to get promotion back to the PL. We won't risk any players because we are heading into a busy period.

It's a spotlight game. We want to get the best possible result.

I would prefer to have this game in different circumstances when we have got four games in 10 days. I don't know why we have the early kick-off on Saturday. We will be the underdog in this game and I would like to concentrate and prepare more on this game. We want to make the best of the circumstances.



DF on Roberts
All my players are in my thoughts because we have such a tight group. We don't have to take too many tough decisions at this moment. Connor is an experienced player and had a great impact in the last game. He's definitely in my thoughts.



DF on team news
Patrick showed a little reaction to his calf. There's a question mark over Summerville too.

Little bruise for Dan James but he should be available. Rutter has got problems with his hip flexor. We will make a late decision on him.

There will be some late decisions.

Sam Byram is back available. He's in team training and is an option for this game.


All the pressure on Chelsea?
We feel pressure to represent our shirt in every game. There's not one game I have played or managed in football where I have gone into a game with fear.

I think Chelsea are a side with fantastic potential.

We are on a great run and we have ambitions to finish in the top position and we can go into this game with nothing to lose.

Chelsea will be there with the best possible starting line-up. We have got three league games coming up so we have to take some smart decisions. We can't do anything special.


More on the cup tie
We will be ourselves in this game. We will try to be brave. We will have to defend well.

We will travel and will have 11 guys out on the pitch and we will make sure we are competitive.



DF on belief
It is important not to be over excited or over the moon. It's such a tight race.

It's important to travel with a smile on our face
and to stay focused. We want to be competitive.


DF on the Leicester performance
I would definitely label the game at Premier League level. They are a really good side and wouldn't be there with a record points tally. It was a tight game.

Our work against the ball was spot on, particularly in the first half. We reduced Leicester to little possession.

You have to be effective. We were lucky for 20 minutes in the second half. It was not our best game in possession by our standards. We allowed them to have too many transition moments and they had two to three really good chances. In these terms, it was good preparation for the Chelsea game.

We have to be good in possession; we won't dominate the game like we did against Leicester. We have to make sure they don't have possession in dangerous areas.


DF on Summerville's ankle injury
It's never easy for a young player in a 46-game season. It's a new experience for him and his body. We have to be careful. He has been one of the standout players this season.

He gets many hits and knocks due to the way he plays. He shouldn't change it because we need his bravery on the ball.

It's something he has to learn to adapt to it and to deal with the situation. There are no complaints about this.

He has not been involved in too many proper training sessions in recent weeks and this is never helpful for the player. The last three or four weeks is not ideal.

We have to make sure we sort his problems out in his body and that he's capable to be there with proper training rhythm. We have to make smart decisions.


DF on Gray's development
He play in CM in every game more or less at the beginning of the season. Perhaps he always ends up playing at full back in his career.

I still rate him a bit more as a CM. He has all the ingredients to shine in that position.

We take care of Archie and try to be there with the best possible backing of his development and we do this in a senstive way.

It's about what the individual can bring to Leeds United. We will always do what's best for Leeds United. He has delivered so many good performances at full-back. I wouldn't rule out him playing in the CM this season but we have lots of competition there.

Archie is happy when he's on the pitch and when he can deliver.



DF on Gray's minutes this season
He is doing excellent. I had concerns at the beginning of the season over his load but that has eased up a lot.

He has convinced all of us that he's able to handle the load.

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