Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, expressed his frustration following the team’s 0-0 draw in the first leg of the playoff semi-final against Norwich City. The match was largely uneventful, with the only notable incident being Leeds controversially denied an early penalty.
The game took place at Carrow Road, Farke’s former stomping ground, where Leeds faced the sixth-placed Norwich City. Despite Leeds’ poor league form leading up to the match, there was some confidence in the team’s ability to defeat Norwich, having previously won against them home and away this season.
Both teams struggled to create many goal-scoring opportunities throughout the game, with neither side posing a significant threat to the goalkeepers. Although Leeds dominated possession for large portions of the match, neither team managed to break the deadlock, with most of the action taking place in the middle of the pitch.
A controversial moment occurred early in the game when Willy Gnonto was brought down in the box by Borja Sainz, but the referee did not award a penalty, much to the frustration of Farke and the Leeds team. Despite the decision going against them, Farke expressed his reluctance to implement VAR and interfere with such incidents.
Farke highlighted the numerous occasions this season where decisions went against Leeds, suggesting that if VAR had been in place, Leeds would have finished in the top two. While acknowledging the frustrating nature of referee decisions, Farke also emphasized the team’s responsibility to capitalize on their opportunities.
Overall, the match ended in a goalless draw, but Farke believes that an early penalty could have completely changed the course of the two-leg clash, potentially leading Leeds to victory and a place in the final at Wembley.
