Daniel Farke happy to take flak for players but Leeds slump piles on pressure

Trip to the Etihad fraught with danger as Leeds pay price for inadequate summer recruitment, leaving German’s job in jeopardy

Like it or not, Daniel Farke has become a one-man buffer zone, insulating players and directors from growing supporter anger at Elland Road.

Leeds heads to Manchester City on Saturday with Farke acutely aware that defeat against his good friend Pep Guardiola will only intensify suggestions that Brendan Rodgers could soon commandeer his Elland Road parking space. While it remains unclear as to whether Rodgers, a free agent following a dramatic divorce from Celtic in October, would actually want the job, five defeats in the past six Premier League games have raised awkward questions about Farke’s future.