Not every player has been able to feature regularly since Daniel Farke’s arrival at Leeds United in the summer of 2023, with some players more peripheral and lower in the pecking order.
The likes of Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt could have been utilised more for Leeds United this season, but it was not important in the context of the season in the end. Leeds won the title with 100 points and Daniel Farke’s decision-making was one of the factors in that.
The squad had incredible depth and quality, too. That has been evident all season and was another factor in ensuring promotion at the second time of asking. However, the first season was also a campaign of frustration for some of the squad, including a centre-back now thriving in Ligue 1.
Fortunately, the decision to let Charlie Cresswell go to Toulouse cannot be framed as a mistake, regardless of how impressive the academy graduate may have been in his debut season in France.
Charlie Cresswell makes Leeds United admission
Toulouse spent £4 million to sign Cresswell from Leeds and he has gone on to become a regular in the top flight of France off the back of just 135 minutes across five appearances in last season’s Championship — and 315 minutes of football in total.
Cresswell’s new manager at Toulouse has loved his performances this season for his new side, where he has seen 2,850 minutes worth of actions this season and appeared in 31 of Toulouse’s 34 matches in French football’s 18-team top division.
The 22-year-old started all but two (missing both due to suspension) league matches from October 20 onwards as his new team finished 10th. Speaking via Beren Cross of The Athletic, Cresswell has reflected on his time at Leeds and his lack of opportunities under Farke.
He said: “Of course, there’s going to be frustrations. I was there since I was 11. I wanted to live that dream. I wanted to play for Leeds. I wanted to be part of that journey, but these things happen in football.
“You don’t always get your way and your path’s meant to go in a different direction, but it’s turned out well. I couldn’t be happier.”
Cresswell added: “I wouldn’t have said to prove people wrong. I’d have said to prove myself right. I know I have that ability, but I just needed to prove it.
“I was always dying to just get that chance to prove I can play. The fact Toulouse gave me this chance to do it? I’ll be forever grateful.”
Charlie Cresswell’s Toulouse stats since leaving Leeds
He impressed in the Premier League during a 2-1 loss to West Ham United and with the threat of Michail Antonio to deal with at Elland Road in 2021/22, but those early signs of potential only helped in securing Leeds a decent fee when selling Cresswell last summer.
The giant defender is known for his aerial dominance, with Cresswell topping defensive metrics over PSG stars when it comes to his ability to win headers and duels consistently since his move to France from Leeds; it’s helped him bag a goal or two as well.
Cresswell proved with Millwall in the season prior that he is capable of starting games in the second tier. The best thing for his development was regular game time and he was simply not granted the much-needed minutes with Leeds, but the academy graduate is now thriving for Toulouse instead.
