Jaka Bijol “certainly not happy” at Leeds but not blaming Daniel Farke

Leeds United player Jaka Bijol has admitted he is “certainly not happy” with his season so far, but the Slovenia international made clear he is not blaming Daniel Farke for his lack of minutes. The 26-year-old joined from Udinese this summer after establishing himself as a Serie A leader, yet he has not played a single minute in the Premier League.

Bijol began the campaign suspended due to a card carried over from Italy, forcing him to miss the season opener. In his absence, Farke settled on a central defensive pairing of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. With the duo performing well, there has been little incentive to disrupt the back line.

Speaking to Slovenian outlet Ekipa during the international break, Bijol accepted the situation, though his frustration was clear. “I am certainly not happy with the current situation,” he said, while also stressing that he respects the coach’s choices and remains determined to seize any opportunity that comes his way.

Farke has been clear since pre-season that competition for places will be fierce. Leeds began the campaign with encouraging form, but recent wobbles in results may open the door for changes. Bijol acknowledged that he needs to be patient and ready when his moment comes.

The defender also admitted that he wanted to move outside his “comfort zone” after years of guaranteed minutes in Italy. At Leeds, he finds himself fighting for his place in one of the most demanding leagues in the world. “Of course, I’m not happy about it, but it is what it is – let’s move on,” he said.

The timing of the break could not be better for Bijol, who is expected to feature prominently for Slovenia in their World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Switzerland. These fixtures give him valuable competitive minutes and an opportunity to prove he remains in peak condition.

A strong international window could also remind Farke of his qualities and push him closer to a Premier League debut. With Leeds aiming for survival and stability, fresh options in defence may become crucial as the season unfolds.

FootballPlace analyst John William believes Bijol’s situation is a classic example of a new signing adapting to the Premier League:

“Central defenders rarely rotate unless injury or form forces a change. Bijol is an experienced international, and his profile — aerially strong, composed in possession — will give Farke another reliable option. The key will be patience. Once he gets his chance, he has the maturity to make it count.”

This measured approach suggests Leeds will eventually benefit from Bijol’s presence, particularly when the fixture schedule becomes more congested later in the season.

Leeds face a tricky run of fixtures after the international break, with defensive depth likely to be tested. Bijol will hope that either rotation or tactical tweaks open the door for his long-awaited debut.

For now, his focus is on international duty, where he has the chance to remind both Farke and Leeds fans of his qualities. If Slovenia get positive results, Bijol could return to Elland Road with momentum — and perhaps closer to breaking into the Premier League starting XI.

👉 Do you think Jaka Bijol will break into Daniel Farke’s Leeds United XI before the end of the year?