Daniel Farke gave a glittering appraisal of the midfielder, who stole the show on Friday
Anton Stach has enjoyed a wonderful debut season at Leeds United and has been a major influence on the club being all but there with Premier League survival.
The German, who signed for £17m from Hoffenheim this summer, started his first game in almost a month in Friday’s 3-1 win over Burnley having recovered from injury and scored a rasping opener from long range. His overall play was impressive, with duels won, transitions sparked and chances created. He now sits on five goals for the season, all of which have been important and many of them spectacular.
Daniel Farke waxed lyrical about Stach after full time, delivering a quip when asked about his training ground demeanour in light of his well-covered quirky social media activity.
“Yes, he's a bit of a weird and crazy guy, and he gets lots of stick from myself! ” Farke grinned.
“Because he can be a bit sleepy and cheeky and weird at times - but I have to say he delivers quality performance, really, from the first day. 'He's so competitive on this level, and this is remarkable, because he has to sit with the big dogs in the centre of the park and has to be competitive physically to run our game. “Technically, he always delivers. Unbelievable workload in terms of cover distance.
He delivers top set pieces, delivers goals, he delivers assists, top mentality, strong in the duels.
“I think he plays an outstanding season and fully deserves all the praise and is in the spotlight, definitely one of our key players and one of our best players on this level. ” Stach has played in various positions throughout his career, including as part of a back three. He has remained exclusively a midfielder at Leeds, albeit has been tasked with various roles such as lying deeper or, as seen on Friday, playing further forward.
Ahead of possible selection for Germany’s World Cup squad, countryman Farke paid him the perfect compliment when asked which position Stach plays best.
“Wherever I put him and wherever I need him! ” he replied.
“He can play like a number 10, although it looks a bit like a mixture of, I don't know, Peter Crouch and something like this but he is bloody effective in this position. “Outstanding in the pressing and is also good for second balls. A dangerous threat in the opponent's box. Anton is definitely a good choice.
We have some other types of players, but he can play everywhere.
“Especially, of course, in the centre of the game, I like to have him there, involved in many duels and with many touches. He should influence our game. And this is important.
“So I like him, of course, also in the deeper role when he has a bit more space in front of him, but whenever I need him also in a higher role, he can deliver there as well. “And once we have also players who have played so many good games in this position with Ethan and Ao for example, and it's also not not a problem to put Anton in a slightly higher role, and then he delivers there.
And it's great to have such a versatile player in this squad. ”
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