'It's a good feeling to be back on the big stage' says Daniel Farke after Leeds United book FA Cup quarter-final place
Daniel Farke praised the players that came into his Leeds United side after they got the job done to see the Whites into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since Terry Venables was manager.
Farke made nine changes to his starting line-up, but his team took themselves to within 90 minutes of a Wembley semi-final as they beat Norwich 3-0.
First half goals from Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson and a late effort by Joel Piroe saw the Whites through and they were able to progress comfortably despite another VAR controversy that saw Lukas Nmecha have a goal ruled out for a handball against Willy Gnonto in the build-up.
Gnonto also had an effort ruled out for a close offside decision with VAR confirming this.
He was one of the players to give Farke a nod that he could be worth a starting spot back in the Premier League and he was happy the rotation worked.
He said: We changed on nine positions and so much rotation is never healthy for the performance. You have to look on other pitches at how Arsenal and Chelsea were struggling with other sides perhaps.
“All the teams around us who have rotated are out of the competition but not us, we have delivered.
“We needed 10 to 15 minutes to come into the game but then played excellent. We missed two or three chances but to score three goals and against an in-form and brave Norwich, to deliver a clean sheet - you can't take it for granted when you make so many changes."
Farke is now hoping for a home draw in the next round and it could be a big one with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea still in the competition.
He added: "Staying up would be the first big achievement. To be in the quarter-final is a big topic. It's still not realistic to win the cup but who knows? The dream is ongoing.
“Hopefully another home game, we're looking forward to the draw. We took it as motivation to write another piece of history. Who knows what the outcome will be?
“It's always a chance but you still have more or less the big names through - Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea. We're not the favourites but we know on a good day we can win, especially in a one-off game against each and everyone.
“It's a good feeling to be back on the big stage. We're highly motivated to live this dream as much as possible."
Leeds were flat at the start with just a couple of long range efforts from Gudmundsson and Longstaff to show for their early efforts.
But the game came to life in the 19th minute when Gnonto chased a long pass forward and got to the ball ahead of advancing keeper Daniel Grimshaw.
It ran on to give Nmecha a simple tap in, but VAR ruled that Gnonto had touched the ball with his arm and referee Darren England agreed it was handball after going across to the monitor to look.
But it did strike the Italian high up the arm so it was a harsh decision – and coming off the back of VAR not ruling a handball against a Manchester City player the week before and then giving a tough decision against Ethan Ampadu against Sunderland it left home fans chanting loudly about they would do with VAR.
Later in the half VAR did not choose to get involved when Nmecha claimed he was pushed as he tried to reach a low cross by Dan James in the box.
But the controversies did appear to wake the Whites up as they suddenly came to life. Gnonto sent a volley over, Nmecha shot over after a smart spin in the box and finally a goal came in the 32nd minute.
Gudmundsson's burst into the box took him in behind the Norwich defence and he did well to reach the ball as well as pull it back for Longstaff who cleverly took a touch, turned and smacked home a volley.
Gnonto thought he had made it two when heading home James' cross, but was marginally offside.
It was 2-0 before the break, however, as Gudmundsson poked home his first goal for Leeds after the ball fell nicely for him when James' low cross was deflected into his path.
Piroe sent a near post flick wide from another low ball in and Leeds were good value for their two-goal half-time lead with their Championship opponents only managing one shot when Ali Ahmed had fired wide.
The second half was a different proposition for a spell as Norwich had much more of the ball and were unlucky not to pull a goal back as Liam Gibbs, Sam Field, Jose Cordoba and Anis Ben Slimane all managed to get efforts in, two of which forced saves from home keeper Lucas Perri, and the latter hitting the outside of the post.
United were losing the midfield battle after they had been well on top in this department in the first half and with Ao Tanaka and Longstaff both booked the decision was made to make three substitutions.
Putting Ampadu into midfield after he had been playing in the back three and getting Anton Stach on helped the hosts get back on top and they finished the game strongly to put the tie to bed.
Piroe was unlucky to see his well struck shot hit the crossbar after substitute keeper Vladan Kovacevic got fingertips to the ball.
Nmecha brought another save from the keeper before the third goal came in the 85th minute when Stach won possession and found Nmecha who then timed his pass perfectly so Piroe did not have to break stride to calmly stroke the ball into the bottom corner of the net for his long overdue first goal of the season.
The win could have been even more emphatic as late on Nmecha saw his close range shot deflected wide following a great run and pull back by Gnonto.
It was in keeping with the recent officiating at this ground that a goalkick was given instead of a corner, but it did not matter as Leeds were home dry for their place in the last eight of the famous competition for the first time since 2003.
(Longstaff 32, Gudmundsson 43, Piroe 85)
Norwich City 0
FA Cup, round five
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Attendance: 36,213
Leeds: Perri; Bornauw (Justin 45), Bijol, Ampadu; James (Bogle 71), Tanaka (Stach 71), Longstaff (Struijk 71), Gudmundsson (Byram 89); Piroe, Gnonto; Nmecha.
Norwich: Grimshaw (Kovacevic 45); Fisher, McConville, Cordoba, Chrisene; Field, McLean; Gibbs (Slimane 62), Maghoma (Mundle-Smith 62), Ahmed (Amankwah 82); Kvistgaarden (Stacey 62).
Referee: Darren England