Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has reiterated that Premier League survival remains the top priority as they head into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Tuesday. He indicated he will rotate his squad to give new signings time to adapt and to protect his key players from unnecessary strain.
“We want to progress into the next round,” Farke said, but he stressed that the league campaign must come first and that Leeds “won’t do anything stupid.” He added that no player is to be risked if there is any injury doubt or load issue, and that the match offers a chance for new arrivals to settle in.
“For new signings, this is perhaps also a chance to get used to everything. The clear target is we want to go into the next round, but you can expect a few more rotations than we perhaps normally would do. We want to make sure that we, for ourselves, are there with a good performance and also a good result. But we are also aware that they are a competitive side,” he said.
The clash with Wednesday, who will be eager to upset a Premier League opponent on home soil, will test Leeds’ depth as they balance Cup ambitions with the demands of the league season.
What this means for Leeds is a measured approach: rotation to give minutes to new signings and fringe players, while keeping the core group fresh for Premier League duties. If the plan pays off, Leeds can advance in the cup without compromising their primary objective of staying in the top flight, providing a positive boost to squad morale and competition for places.
A hopeful takeaway is that this rotation could accelerate integration of new players and strengthen the squad’s breadth, offering Leeds continued momentum as they navigate a demanding schedule ahead.