Farke provides update on Leeds trio after late defeat to Newcastle | OneFootball

Daniel Farke says he took Joe Rodon, Brenden Aaronson and Anton Stach off against Newcastle because they were suffering with cramp.

Farke’s side led 3-2 going into the closing stages before conceding twice in added time to lose 4-3.

But despite conceding following the substitutions, Farke defended his decision to protect his players from injury.

“If I have to ask myself some criticial questions, I shouldn’t have substituted them because we concede the goal after substituting them,” the Leeds boss said.

“Perhaps I should have left them on the pitch with cramps and perhaps we would have won the game or got at least one point.

“I think they were excellent, what a performance. Joe was a rock in defence. Anton Stach gave me the sign that his quad had started to cramp. I think he was excellent again but in the last ten days we have played four Premier League games and he’s played each and every minute.

“I left him as long as possible on the pitch and then had to take him off. Right now, after we lost the game, I’m thinking I should have risked injury and left him on but I would take exactly the same decision again because he’s such an important player for us and I can’t risk to lose him for weeks or whatever.

“The same more or less with Brenden. Although he was fantastic today and also Joe, if they are struggling with cramp, I need to substitute them and for that I would take the same decision, although sadly after the substitution we have conceded these heartbreaking goals.”