'Always goes up' - Leeds United's promotion will be secured with key trait between now and May
Clean sheets and a rock-solid defence will see Leeds United playing Premier League football next August. Daniel Farke has staked that future on his backline being the meanest in the division after their sixth clean sheet of the season on Saturday.
The 0-0 stalemate with Bristol City was far from a classic and is unlikely to be remembered by anyone present for the football on show in the years to come. However, as is his job as manager, Farke was happy to talk up the positives and underline his summer aim of crafting the best defence in the division.
“Overall, when I have to judge the first 12 games after a bit of a crazy and wild first game, I have to say what we have delivered then was rock solid,” he said. “It's really my true belief the best defence in the league always goes up.
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“It's one of the claims we have. We want to be the best defence. We're on a good path. We have already added many, many clean sheets, but you always have to stay awake.
“If you do one step less or offensive players work less back, if there is an injury or whatever, sometimes the momentum can change quickly. For that, it's too soon to praise our defence yet because just 12 games are done, so just one-quarter of the season is more or less over.
“We have to keep going, but if you can keep going with this solidity, then it will definitely be a key, key topic, in order to have something to cheer about come next May, yes.”
As it stands, only three teams have conceded fewer goals than United’s eight, which includes that opening-day trio from Portsmouth. No team, however, has conceded less expected goals (xG) than the Whites (8.1).