# Gary Neville Slams Frustrating Leeds United Star: “Annoying Daniel Farke vs Tottenham and Isn’t Good Enough”
In the high-stakes world of Premier League punditry, few voices carry the weight of Gary Neville. The former Manchester United captain didn’t hold back during Sky Sports’ coverage of Leeds United’s recent 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on October 4, zeroing in on one player who he believes is holding Daniel Farke back. That player? Defender Pascal Struijk, the Dutch centre-back whose unlucky but error-prone display has Neville fuming.
The match at Elland Road was a tense affair, with Tottenham snatching victory through deflected strikes from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus—both looping off Struijk—either side of Noah Okafor’s equalizer. Leeds, under Farke, showed flashes of their promotion-winning form from last season but faltered in key moments. Struijk, anchoring the backline, was at fault for both goals despite his efforts, prompting Neville to describe his display as “frustrating beyond belief.”
“It’s annoying me, and clearly it was annoying Daniel Farke too,” Neville said post-match, his trademark candor on full display. “Struijk has the physicality, the presence—but where’s the composure? Against Tottenham’s attack, he was caught out, those deflections ruining us after he got caught in no-man’s land. Farke looked exasperated on the touchline every time it happened. This lad isn’t good enough for this level consistently. Leeds need reliability, not defensive roulette.”
Neville’s critique echoes Struijk’s turbulent time at Leeds. Joined as a youth prospect from Ajax in 2018, the 26-year-old became a regular during the 2020/21 Premier League season but has battled injuries and inconsistency since, including a red card controversy against Liverpool. Back as a starter for the 2025/26 campaign after promotion, he’s been solid in spells but exposed in big games, with his deflections against Tottenham highlighting ongoing concerns about his positioning under pressure.
Farke, ever the diplomat, defended his charge in the presser: “Pascal’s working hard. He’s experienced, adapting. We all have off days—unlucky with those bounces.” But Neville isn’t buying it. “Farke’s building a squad to compete—summer signings like Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol are class. Struijk? He’s the weak link. Drop him, give someone else a shot, or he’ll drag them down.”
Leeds sit 12th with 8 points from 7 games, 10 behind second-placed Tottenham. Neville’s words sting, but they could spark change. Will Farke bench his “frustrating star” for the next outing against Burnley?
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