Norwich City: Leeds boss Daniel Farke on his Premier League regrets

Daniel Farke is out to extinguish his Norwich City Premier League regrets at Leeds United. 

The German signed a four-year deal to become the new boss at Elland Road on Tuesday and is targeting a repeat of the second-tier success he enjoyed at Carrow Road with his new club. 

Whilst Farke led Norwich to two Championship titles during his tenure, he was unable to stabilise the club in the top-flight - something that cost him his job in November 2021 when he was dismissed by sporting director Stuart Webber. 

That is the long-term ambition at Leeds and Farke has opened up on his regrets of being unable to achieve that goal in Norfolk, believing the odds were stacked against him in that 2019/20 campaign. 

"With Norwich, let's be honest, I had one go a few years ago, with all respect I loved my players and I loved the club and Norwich will always be a big, big part of my CV and my history and we had amazing players who gave everything for the club, but if we're really honest, it was not a Premier League side," Farke said in his opening interview as Leeds boss for their channels.

"It was a season that was interrupted by Corona. We had, after 29 game days, 21 points. It was never enough to be there in order to retain Premier League status. But it was more a miracle that we had already 21 points with this group of players.

"So I still want to be respectful, it was great. We had some great games but we were never prepared for Premier League level.

"I think our sporting director Stuart Webber used during this year some more drastic words, nowadays you have to be a bit careful but he said more or less that we went out without any tools, so it was no chance.

"After the corona break we had to play all our last nine games without supporters and we didn't have any chance at all. So without supporters, we didn't get one point and you know, it was too difficult."

It was Farke's Championship record that proved persuasive to the Leeds hierarchy in their quest for a new head coach after mutually agreeing to end Sam Allardyce's time at the club following relegation. 

Whilst that is the objective awaiting the ex-City coach at Elland Road - his ambitions are set higher as he seeks to help Leeds stabilise and thrive in the Premier League. 

"Yes, you have to say I have not worked in a Premier League club who has established themselves on this level, but it's also one of the reasons why I came here," he said.

"I'll be also totally honest to you, so the last two times I've managed at Championship level I've won this league, it was a great feeling but it's not what attracts me to say 'okay, I want to lift the trophy again.'

"Obviously I want to do this, no doubt about this, but what attracts me most is to become with the club established on a Premier League level and this is what I'm looking forward to."