Every word Daniel Farke said in pre-Stoke City press conference as Leeds United boss offers team news hints

You could see not just from the result but also performance-wise that it was crucial for them [to have so many injured players back last weekend]. So I expect them to finish in a much better position than they are at the moment. I think it was just the start at the weekend. Obviously we want to make sure that they have to wait for back to back wins and for a little run, even a little bit longer, but I'm quite sure that under Alex’s leadership, they will finish in a in a much better position and for that we are very respectful. We don't travel in fear. So we also know that we are in good shape and want to win the points but we have to be at our best in order to give ourself a chance to win the points.

A good record is never a guarantee that the next game will be successful. I'm very, very respectful because Alex is an unbelievable, experienced coach in English football and especially on a Championship level. I like personalities, I like coaches and managers where you can see the handwriting and you can see this in his teams. They play with intensity, aggression, with bravery, they go for it with many crosses, you have to defend second balls really well, they play with fighting spirit, with the knife between the teeth. This is what you expect when you play his sides. He has also some of his former players from Preston at Stoke and you can see his handwriting. One of his biggest skills is when there’s pressure he is standing strong and gives his team confidence. His teams goes and tries to fight all together. This is what they did against a really good Sunderland side, why they got an important win, we know it’ll be a tough task. I don’t want to use this old English quote about Stoke, but especially since Alex is working there, it’s even more the case, we have to be fully switched on, to be ready to fight for the points as well.

I think even before he was excellent. It’s not like he won the armband in the lottery, I’m happy with his development. During the short time that we've worked together in the recent months, but also from the beginning of preseason to now, there’s so much potential in him, he’s got all the skills you need to be labelled one day a top class centre-back. He’s still a young player and needs some consistency. He’s working a lot on this. Even when I followed his recent seasons, he showed his potential but there have been one or two situations in the games when he was not switched on and then you concede. As a centre--back you can't afford to be in one moment not switched on. I think this was the case in the last seasons. Spoke a lot with him about consistency, 90 mins and added time you have to be switched on and play without any mistakes. You can take risks and sometimes perhaps even allow yourself to be a bit sloppy but perhaps to be a bit gambling as offensive player but not as a centre-back. He adapted quite well to my demands and played a crucial part, we already have many clean sheets. Obviously we don't have to speak about his skills with the ball, his initial pass, threat on set-pieces, I’m very pleased with his development. When he was allowed to wear the captain’s armband he knows it’s a big responsibility for the whole group. Although he's not 30+, he's still in young age but he's already a player for us I think he can grow even more more into this position.

This is why I spoke extensively about how important these type of games are for the development of players, in football and tactical terms as well as developing the personality. The sun is not always shining in football careers, this type of game at a difficult away ground you have to dig in and grind out - this is quite important. First half we were not too far away from a really good performance but it’s always the same after the int’l break, you need a 20-30 minutes to shake the rust. Many players were involved in the international games, including Archie. He fought his way into the game. His direct opponent Hernandez was substituted during the second half then, he had to defend against a player like Rowe with six goals already, he calmed him down, he played fantastically also the three-man formation later on and this is quite important. For young players it’s easier to shine once we are so dominant, when we are in the lead and in home games, everyone celebrates him at Elland Road, but tough away games to fight your way into the game. I think this is absolutely beneficial. I’m pretty pleased. We have to learn as a young player, it’s not always a day to be there with a 9 out of 10, when it’s a tough day make sure you’re there with a 6 or 7 out of 10 and to have this experience and also this type of games on a very young age, it's unbelievable beneficial . I’m delighted how he reacted during the game. It was tough against an experienced Championship winger like Onel Hernandez and was then also crucial in a good second half.

For Junior Firpo he needs a couple of weeks for team training, it would be too early to send him out. Also Stuart, first of all he has to join us in team training, he needs full training sessions on a consistent basis, so it will last definitely several weeks. Djed Spence still not in team training. Perhaps a few younger players who won’t make it into the squad, they will get some minutes, sensible that they play some minutes [in 21s], but from the long term injuries, no.

[The injury situation] was improved, Leo is also ready to go. All the other lads came good through the game. We have our long-term injuries like Djed Spence and Stuart Dallas. Apart from this everyone is in team training. Definitely good news.

Crysencio is a baller, it’s more like it’s a joy to watch him. This is why we all come into the stadium because when you see a guy touching the ball like he does, it’s heart-warming. But the one thing we always speak about with him about and talk with him about, we want him to improve his effectiveness and we need goals, we need assists, we need end products. This is also the final step in order to find also his next step in his career, end product. So if he delivers like this with two goals, I think overall he’s on a really good path.