Leeds’ pre-season trip to (shh, it’s secret) hints at great promise for 2024-25

Leeds United’s pre-season camp in Germany was a covert operation.

Its secretive nature was driven by necessity rather than preference, courtesy of a stunning decision by the German authorities.

Away from the fans in West Yorkshire, Daniel Farke’s side have spent the last nine days at the Hotel-Residence Klosterpforte – located in the town of Harsewinkel, on the outskirts of Bielefeld in the west of the country – in a period of hard work as they prepare. for the new championship season.

The message to fans was to stay at home, with the team’s location as well kept under wraps as anyone can keep anything away from the sleuths of United’s fan base. Neither of the two friendlies, against Hannover 96 and Schalke 04, was made available for supporters to attend due to the narrowly-stretched instructions of the German police following Euro 2024.

It seems a fair request if you get over the fact that Coventry City, Rangers and Aston Villa will be playing games in front of fans in Germany this summer, as well as the fact that Leeds have worked hard to offer ways to avoid relegation only to hit a wall brick. A case of one rule for some and another for Leeds, not that it would have stopped the most optimistic travelers from making the journey anyway.

In relative quiet, there was still plenty of work to be done by Farke’s side and much learned from training camp and the two wins against Bundesliga 2 promotion hopefuls.

👌 “Great finish from Piroe!” pic.twitter.com/wSy6v0jzca

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 27, 2024

The hotel used by Leeds as a base is an old favorite of Farke, who also used it when he was boss at Norwich City. It boasted specialist FIFA-accredited training facilities built for the 2006 World Cup. The return to his homeland also allowed the United manager to spend time with his family as his son watched training earlier in the week.

There wasn’t much time for lingering from the players, however, with sessions in the heat putting them to work right after the 3-0 win over Harrogate Town.

A boost came after the arrival of new signing Jayden Bogle, who joined the team immediately after completing his £5 million ($6.4 million) move from Sheffield United last week. His arrival at the camp, filmed and shared on social media by the Leeds media team, was a first look at the steps needed to keep this camp low-key, with the Hotel-Residence Klosterpforte sign faded. Where the censorship would have been better used would have been by blurring out the Manchester United shirt worn by a child peering through the fence at the compound.

On the football side, it has been very promising for the new campaign with Hannover and Schalke both cleared by 4-1 and 2-0 wins. There was no return to the three-at-the-back system tested by Farke against Harrogate, but a more familiar 4-2-3-1.

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If the four are to remain the desired system, then their task is simple. Farke wants to have the best defense in the league this season, a title Leeds came close to claiming before their slip-up at the end of last campaign. His other key objective, promotion aside, is more goals from midfield and early signs have been promising with Ilia Gruev getting on the scoresheet against Hannover and some delightful practice strikes from Joe Rothwell.

With Mateo Joseph scoring three to stake his claim as the starting No.9 and Bogle’s exciting, assist-giving runs, there were opportunities for the youngsters to shine. Harry Gray, Archie’s younger brother and newly 15-year-old, joined the team and played a few minutes. Center back James Debayo has also been involved and, three years older than Gray, could have a fringe role for the season ahead barring some new recruits at the back.

Patrick Bamford (back from knee surgery), Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James (adductor) were rested for the second game of the break, but this was a trip about hard work and fun in equal measure for Leeds.

🔥 That travel shirt x @Jayden_bogle pic.twitter.com/wQ194ZHAG8

— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 25, 2024

Farke wasn’t shy about joining in training as the players took part in their gym sessions, while Summerville and Willy Gnonto got into the Olympic spirit early with a bit of shadow boxing. There was no shortage of banter between the players. A go-karting trip seemed like just a reward for some intense sessions on the track. Bogle emerged victorious.

Having secured Bogle’s signature, the Leeds transfer squad continue their work after a bid for Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic was rejected. At around €4m (£3.4m; $4.3m) with 12 months remaining on the 26-year-old’s contract, it remains to be seen whether United will turn again for the Austria international, although their interest remains. It took several bids to land Bogle – Farke wants at least another midfielder and another full-back for his squad.

Safely back in the UK after a valuable and more stable spell together than Farke was afforded in a summer of change this time last year, the focus turns to the final pre-season friendly when Valencia visit Elland Road at the weekend . The preseason that no one saw, least of all in person — there are plenty of videos, photos and interviews online — could yet prove to be the most important nine days of this team’s journey together.

The early signs are that with additions still to be made and if they can get off to a good start early, this Leeds side will be off the mark.

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(Top photo: Daniel Farke in pre-season friendly against Harrogate Town; by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)