Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has confirmed that several key players will miss the club's final home match of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road. While the Whites have already secured their Premier League safety, the injury list presents a less-than-ideal situation heading into the fixture.
Providing an update on the squad's fitness, Farke revealed: "It's a bit tricky, but we can approach this with a smile because we've achieved our goal. However, it's not ideal. Ilia Gruev is out for the season, and we'll also be without Noah Okafor, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Jayden Bogle. Pascal Struijk isn't training, and Ethan Ampadu is struggling with illness, making him a major doubt. There are a few question marks, but we want to finish as strongly as possible. We'll need our supporters to carry us a little bit."
Despite the injury setbacks, there's plenty of optimism around the club now that Premier League status is secured for next season. The focus has already shifted toward building on this foundation, with Farke outlining his ambitions for the future.
"I'm ambitious, and that's crucial for me going forward," said the German manager. "My feeling is that I want to play attractive football—perhaps for sides in the top half of the table. I love being a manager who plays for something rather than to avoid something. I'm not the right choice if it's about maintaining the status quo. I have to be convinced of a project, and I'm at my best when I buy into one. Everyone knows the Premier League is better with Leeds United in it."
Farke also acknowledged the need for evolution, drawing on the club's recent history. "We've had one good season in the Premier League in the last 25 years—the season with Marcelo Bielsa—and we didn't build on it. You have to develop and evolve. That's what I stand for, so it's important that we speak internally, and very trustfully, about our plans going forward."
As Leeds prepare to bid farewell to Elland Road for the season, fans will be hoping the team can deliver a strong performance despite the absentees—and that the foundations being laid now will lead to a brighter, more consistent future in the top flight.