Daniel Farke’s center-back dilemma on Saturday is expected to center on Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Liam Cooper. Charlie Cresswell is unlikely to even be mentioned in the Leeds United debate given his lack of league minutes since August 12.
Despite the fact that the need for Cresswell appears to be low when the other three are available and doing well, Farke understands the 21-year-old will play a role this season. There are at least 38 games left in the Championship, and Leeds are unlikely to complete them all with at least three centre-backs available for selection.
Cresswell was on hand at Birmingham City, for example, when Farke brought in two goalkeepers but still couldn’t fill his bench. Rodon would fill in against West Bromwich Albion and has not been seen since, with the exception of a late cameo at Ipswich Town.
This is a defender who was instrumental in Millwall’s run to the play-offs last season. Cresswell signed a new deal with Leeds on August 1st, likely with high hopes of playing a role in the second tier following relegation.
Farke will understand how badly the England under-21 international was left out of the matchday squad at Hull City. On Saturday, amid the post-match haze, the German played his cards cautiously.
“I don’t praise just the players who were on the pitch today, our centre-backs, but it is also good we have players like, for example, Charlie Cresswell,” he remarked unprompted. “He ensures that he trains each and every training session with top-class performance and top-class mentality, and he keeps the pressure up because the likes of Pascal or Joe or, today, Liam know they can’t afford to play with 2% concentration less because there is a top-class player waiting for his success.”
“For me, it’s not just today for the clean sheet; I praise Pascal and Liam; if I had to single out one player, it would be Charlie Cresswell because he wants to play every game.” It was difficult for him to believe that he wasn’t even on the game day squad for the previous game or that he wouldn’t be starting today, even if he would have deserved it.”
Farke cannot afford to concentrate just on the 13 or 14 players who are getting the most minutes. When the injuries and bans start to pile up, the manager will need every member of his squad involved and feeling valued.
Cresswell was as far away from making an influence on last week’s three games as anyone else on the team. Farke, on the other hand, chose him because of what he was showing him behind the scenes.
“To make sure the players who are not playing each and every game, make sure they train with commitment, with being there, with top-class mentality, with a good personality, this is more to be praised,” he stated. “I am pleased that we demonstrated that we have this depth in the squad, not just in terms of quality, but also in terms of mentality, to think more about the side.”
“Charlie was also singing and celebrating with the lads in the dressing room.” This is exactly the mentality, and if I had to single out one player, I would choose Charlie Cresswell because his behavior is critical.
“If you want to win something, it’s not like the strikers are concentrating on winning the golden boot or the goalkeeper just on most clean sheets, no, think about the success as a team and that’s what my lads are doing at the moment and I am pretty pleased with this behaviour.”
It’s basic guy management. When Farke wants Cresswell to sprint through a brick wall for him in mid-December, these small moments will be fresh in the defender’s mind.
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