Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers: Daniel Farke press conference every word on Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton, Dallas tribute and 'gut feeling'

For Daniel Farke’s pre-Blackburn presser today. All the news to follow here.

For Daniel Farke’s press conference at Thorp Arch. Plenty to cover again, the automatic promotion picture, Ipswich only drawing, Blackburn getting walloped 5-0, any temptation to make changes, injuries, possibly the club’s accounts - and of course Stuart Dallas.

Daniel Farke takes his seat.

Before we start, perhaps I can possibly, before we speak about football, and we all know how important football is and sometimes it seems to be the most important topic in the world but if I'm really honest, more important is also the human being. Obviously we had more or less like a shock news during this week with retirement and the announcement of Stuart Dallas and I want to take also the opportunity to pay tribute, and also to say thanks a lot for everything to Stuart in the name of our group. Because, sometimes a human being who was not playing each and every game, is not that much in the spotlight, but he was pretty much in the spotlight in our group. He’s a pretty integral and key part of our group and obviously, it was also quite emotional for all of us in the last days or so to learn, to know that he has made the decision. Obviously, you could sense it a bit in the in the last weeks when there were a few setbacks in his rehab way and also with his body but once the decision is finally there, and he announces this, it was quite emotional also for us because we don't lose just a great player but also an unbelievable human being and I have to say I'm a bit sad that I was never allowed to send Stuart on the pitch as a manager, as my player, because once I signed a contract here, it was also one of the things I was really looking forward to. Also to work for example with Stuart because I knew what a fantastic player he was. It was always difficult also to prepare my former teams, yeah, also against a side with Stuart Dallas because I think he was a fantastic, fantastic player. I was always respectful when I had to play against him, and would have loved to send him out also in our shirt and as his manager but I also have to say that feel really blessed and I'm really grateful that I'm at least allowed to call myself to be one of the managers of Stuart because obviously he was definitely also my player and will also in my mind and my heart always be my player. And I also learnt more about him as a human being. I have to say he was an unbelievably fantastic player but he was and is even a better human being and is unbelievable. Yeah, how he acts and interacts with the guys, and he's still so important also for our spirit and for our group. I'm working here for this club more or less since nine and a half months and he's doing this more or less same amount but of years and what he has done for this club is so much more than what I have done for example in nine and a half months. So he's a real legend of this club and he's a real deal and I have to say so he deserves all the praise and all the spotlights, not just for the way he played and what he has done for this club during difficult times, during good times, he has led with this quality but also was his personality this club to the highest highs with promotion and also the fantastic first season back in the Premier League, but he was also there when the going gets tough and he was always there with highest identification for this club and even right now he's there for the boys and gives hints and recommendations and it says a lot about his character once he came to the group in order to speak about, yeah, more or less his decision, that the main topic was not just to speak about him as a person, he spoke about our plans, what our motivation was in the beginning of the season, that his fingers are crossed also that we achieve what we want to achieve. So even right now he's thinking more about the group and more about the club than about himself and this says more or less everything about him as a person and I really want to say a big thank you and I really feel blessed that I was allowed to work for at least and this year together with him. Our doors, arms and hearts will always be open for him because he is really a true Leeds United legend and yeah, we are blessed that we still have him for a few weeks and the doors will always be open. He is there and influences and gives us spirit also and especially to the young players and just from my side, and also in the name of all of our staff and the whole team, a big thank you for him and let's enjoy the next weeks or so, we're still having him on side and together with him. Thank you.”

“Obviously I would prefer to have him available for the games, but to have his experience and personality, he's always there before and after the game, calms the nerves and motivates if necessary. We have a young group, we finished the last game with Cree Summerville 22, Mateo Joseph 20, Willy Gnonto just 20, Georginio Rutter in his early 20s, 21 I think, Archie Gray, Illian Meslier. To have a proper Leeds legend who went through the ups and downs, involved in a promotion battle, successfully involved, it's important to have these guys around. You need the energy and enthusiasm of the youth and experience of the more experienced players. Sadly it's not a guarantee we will succeed but it's good to have him around.”