Farke Celebrates Leeds' Premier League Survival After Dramatic Win Over Brighton
Daniel Farke hailed keeping Leeds United in the Premier League as a significant career achievement after his team secured a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in their final home game of the season. Leeds confirmed their survival prior to last week’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stoppage-time winner at Elland Road extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches, elevating them to 13th in the table. Following the match, Farke’s players celebrated with a lap of honour, while he received a warm reception from the fans. Reflecting on the moment, he stated: “Very high, because it would be easier if, in the last 25 years, several other managers would have done this as well.” Farke emphasized the significance of the achievement: Only Marcelo Bielsa had previously led the club to the Premier League. He highlighted the transformation of Leeds from a desperate situation to a club that can now be regarded as a proper top-flight team. Despite Leeds failing to register a shot on target until Calvert-Lewin’s last-minute goal, Farke praised his team's defensive efforts. “We defended our goal really well... we never stopped believing that there would be this one chance.” On the other hand, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler felt his side deserved better, particularly in the second half, where they controlled the game. He called for his team to maintain calm as they approach their final match, with European aspirations still alive. Hurzeler supported Jan Paul van Hecke, who made the critical error leading to the goal, noting: “Football is a game of errors. We did one error, we got punished for that.” As the season concludes, both managers reflect on their teams' performances, with Leeds celebrating survival and Brighton aiming for a strong finish.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-05-17