Daniel Farke
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has addressed the recent exclusion of key players Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach from their national squads for the World Cup. Both players were hopeful of receiving call-ups, with Calvert-Lewin missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England selection and Stach not making Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany team. Despite the disappointment, Farke believes their absence could prove advantageous for Leeds United.
Daniel Farke said: “We are all a bit disappointed for Anton and Dominic, who were hoping for call-ups. This is sometimes what you have to deal with. Of course, both of them were disappointed not to be there, but as great human beings, they were straight away supportive for England and Germany. I would have liked for them [to go] because I feel for them as human beings that they would be involved with the World Cup. [But] selfishly, I think it’s also perhaps even a bit beneficial [they don’t go]. Dominic has played the whole first season after difficult seasons and now, it’s like a break for his body and his head, instead of more pressure with the World Cup, [which] will help him. He then will have the whole of pre-season as well after recharging – and the same for Anton, who’s played an outstanding first season in English football. I think he’s right now also a bit exhausted and tired, and also the break and holiday will be also important for him. So from a selfish point of view, it’s even a bit beneficial. But, of course, the first reaction was they would have hoped that they would be included.”
Farke further expressed his delight for other Leeds players who received international call-ups, including Noah Okafor of Switzerland, Gabriel Gudmundsson of Sweden, and Ao Tanaka of Japan. Despite muscle injuries ruling Okafor and Gudmundsson out of Leeds’ final match against West Ham, they have been selected for their national teams.
Daniel Farke said: “I wasn’t extra cautious not to push them, because I also know how much it means for the national team coaches that they want them back as soon as possible. But the injuries have sadly not allowed this. It was not like we were precautious, it was more or less the other round. We wanted to try to bring them back, but without doing anything stupid. It was not possible to include them during this week.”
In other team news, Pascal Struijk has returned to training after recovering from a hip issue that kept him out of the recent victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. However, Sean Longstaff remains sidelined following hernia surgery, and Ilia Gruev continues to miss out due to a long-term knee injury.
About The Author
