The 100 days that brought Leeds United back from the brink: Insiders tell MIKE KEEGAN how Daniel Farke built survival charge, transfer war chest that awaits if they stay up… and the real reason why manager hasn’t been offered new deal yet

On November 9, Leeds United lost at Nottingham Forest 3-1 and speculation reached fever pitch that the end was nigh for Daniel Farke.

As Daily Mail Sport has previously reported, officials had even considered pulling the trigger in the summer, following Leeds’ promotion from the Championship, unconvinced that the German was the man to keep the club in the Premier League following two instant relegations with Norwich City.

Those voices grew deafeningly loud inside and outside Elland Road after a far from convincing start to the season which left them a point above the relegation zone. Defeat at the City Ground, ahead of a forthcoming international break, may well have seemed like as good a time as any to bring in a new man.

The club’s American owners 49ers Enterprises chose to stick, but sources have disclosed that Farke was summoned to a call with investors for a conversation, and that the 49-year-old was on bullish form. His main argument of many is understood to have been that it would be impossible and unfair to judge him after just 11 games and that he needed more time.

This was a bold move from Farke, although some would argue he had little to lose. Leeds’s upcoming fixture list featured Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and champions Liverpool. Farke was essentially backing himself and his charges to perform against some of the league’s best.

The Forest defeat was just over 100 days ago. If a week is a long time in football, then 14 of them is an eternity. What follows is the story of a turnaround as startling as it was unlikely. An upturn in fortunes that few saw coming, and yet here we are in late February with Farke’s men six points clear of the drop and a once-unlikely survival well within reach.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been crucial to the revival, scoring nine times since late November

A 2-2 draw from 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge has put Leeds six clear of the drop, and is one of a string of upsets they have pulled off since a key Farke tactical switch

Not that there was an instant pick-up. Villa came to Elland Road and won 2–1, and a Leeds supporter attempted to confront Farke on the touchline. Fed-up fans had chanted ‘make a sub’ after Morgan Rogers, who would go on to net the winner, wiped out Lukas Nmecha’s early strike. The frustration with Farke stemmed largely from the fact he was refusing stubbornly to budge from a back four he had not moved away from in three years.

Then came a trip across the Pennines and, finally, a tactical shift since which almost everything has come up roses. At half-time against Manchester City, Leeds were 2-0 down. 

There are no swinging doors on the Etihad Stadium dressing rooms but as he addressed his players, Farke could have been forgiven for thinking he was in the last-chance saloon.

He gambled, bringing on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and switching to three at the back. Remarkably, within 23 minutes of the restart they were back on level terms. At one point, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to take a knee for one of those ‘tactical timeouts’ such was the direction of traffic.

Phil Foden did pop up in stoppage time to snatch it for a relieved City, but the impact was instant. Insiders have said that confidence, which was lacking, was quick to spread throughout the squad.

December came and old foes Chelsea went, overpowered 3-1 on an electric Elland Road night when Calvert-Lewin scored again. Three more goals secured a point against Liverpool. The trio of games that was meant to have seen Farke off resulted in four vital points but, perhaps as importantly, belief surged among both squad and fanbase.

Points were earned at Brentford and Sunderland and Crystal Palace were thrashed 4-1. The mood shift was noticeable. The group often stay at the city’s Hilton hotel before games and fellow residents one weekend, including Leeds supporters who had travelled from overseas, noted a ‘happy and relaxed’ camp.

A hectic January saw creditable points earned at Anfield and at home to Manchester United, a narrow 4-3 loss at Newcastle and another three points against Fulham. After a draw at Everton came a 4-0 thumping from Arsenal, but February has seen an important victory over Forest and another big point at Chelsea.

Leeds fans’ frustrations boiled over to such an extent in November that a fan leapt onto the pitch and confronted Farke before being hauled away by security

The shift to a back three caused such disruption at Manchester City that their goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had to go down ‘injured’ to allow Pep Guardiola to call a tactical timeout

Calvert-Lewin taps in against Chelsea on a raucous night at Elland Road that saw Leeds run out 3-1 winners

Farke has remained level-headed throughout. When interviewed for the job in 2023 he was at pains to point out that his aim was to establish the club – and himself – in the Premier League and that he was not properly backed on his previous two visits with Norwich.

Leeds would say they have held up their end of the bargain, maintaining a high wage bill in the second tier and adding £100m worth of fresh blood in the summer. There has been friction over the data-led transfer business, but the noise has quietened. Farke had appeared to question the summer window and the failure to bring a forward in, famously commenting that they were ‘not dancing on the table’.

In January the only new arrival was Facundo Buonanotte, who had snubbed Leeds (with a private jet on standby) to join Chelsea on loan from Brighton on the previous deadline day. They were keen on Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen but would not go anywhere near the £48m Palace put down. This time, however, there has been no such negativity.

Daily Mail Sport understands that while cash is tight, there will be around £100m to spend in the summer if Leeds stay up.

It remains to be seen, however, if Farke, who has the final say on deals, will be the man to spend it. He has a year remaining on his contract and sources have disclosed that talks are yet to take place over an extension. That may come as a surprise, given the current situation.

While 49ers Enterprises withstood a previous relegation and funded two seasons in the Championship, it is not a place to which they wish to return. All thoughts are on growth and not shrinkage. To that end, planning permission has been sought and gained to lift the Elland Road capacity from 37,645 to 53,000. There is a season-ticket waiting list of 26,000 and there is also a lack of all-important, revenue-generating corporate options for a club of its size.

The bookmakers have Leeds’ chances of going down at 11 per cent, but some at the club believe that is generous, and that the real figure should be 20 per cent. Some also hold concerns that, given the nature of the Premier League in which nothing stays secret for long, clubs will find ways to deal with Leeds’s tactical shift.

West Ham’s resurgence has been noted, and Leeds’ upcoming fixtures are tough. This weekend they travel to Villa, then they host City. Next month could be pivotal. Sunderland and Brentford visit Elland Road, either side of a trip to freefalling Palace.

Some connected to the club still fear they will be worked out in the remainder of the season – a 4-0 thumping at home by Arsenal was a bump on the road

Home form will be key given that Leeds have not won away since September

‘We are on a good path,’ Farke said ahead of the trip to Villa Park. ‘But I am a realistic person. In former years, 30 points would have been enough. I don’t expect that this season. We have to win many more points – we have to stay with the foot on the gas.’

There will be plenty of opportunities for acceleration, with doomed duo Burnley and Wolves to visit, and the desire is that they will be celebrating survival ahead of Brighton’s arrival on May 17.

Home form will be key given they have not won away since September. What would not be ideal would be going to West Ham on the final day with matters unresolved.

For now, Leeds and Farke are in a good place. Insiders say he has always been grounded and resolute in his beliefs and insist little has changed. Others say he is a man empowered. As all at Leeds have seen, much can change in a short space of time. They will hope the next 100 or so days follow the pattern of the last.