‘It’s not easy’ – Liam Cooper’s Leeds United future puts Daniel Farke in an awkward spot

Decisions about the future will be kept as such in the future when it comes to Liam Cooper at Leeds United. The captain blew kisses to the Elland Road crowd and completed a lap of honor with his family after Thursday’s play-off win, with his contract due to expire next month.

The 32-year-old was the only player who had his family with him on the field, despite the fact that it was everyone’s last home game of the campaign. Cooper has made just eight league starts this season and it would be a major surprise if he improves on that under Daniel Farke should he sign a new deal.

The German reiterated Cooper and the club’s focus on nothing but their play-off final at Wembley. Decisions on the players’ contracts and futures will come after the May 26 settlement.

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“I’m blessed with a really good captain because (for) Liam, once you’re a leader of men it’s not easy if you’re not always playing, but he’s always a leader of men and always our main leader in the dressing room, on the pitch training,” Farke said. “At every moment he makes sure everyone is up to speed and he is, for me, even though he wasn’t involved every second on the pitch, one of our key players during the season.

“I’m not only in awe of his career and what he’s done and his resume, but what he’s doing now. For that, we just live here and now. Yes, after the season that decision will be made, but now we are just focused on the coming days and Wembley.”

Unless injuries hit the spine of Farke’s side, Cooper is likely to start next week’s Wembley final on the bench. Of course, he has already taken United back to the Premier League once in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa.

This is another opportunity for others in this squad to join Cooper in legendary status at Elland Road in Farke’s eyes. The manager insists the Scotland international’s cameo on Thursday was not a farewell or sentimental gift, but a response to Ilia Gruev’s yellow card.

“Our focus and Liam’s is, at the moment, just on Wembley because he is one of the few who has already written a chapter in the history of this club,” said Farke. “We have a chance to write another chapter.

“Everyone in this group can then be connected and also be called a bit like the Leeds legends eventually, if we finally make it. For that, yes, we only focus on Wembley and nothing else.

“We wanted Liam (on) then, not just as a thank you for all the work he’s done, but Ilia was on yellow, also Ethan Ampadu is more or less the only player who can fill that deep six role. Then it was natural for me to have Liam come in.

“I would have liked it if he had maybe put one of our shots to bed to score a goal. Normally it would have been one of those stories that are only possible in football, but overall we’re all blessed to have him.”