ShareWith Premier League survival within touching distance, Leeds United can focus on making the FA Cup final for the first time since 1972.By Graham RuthvenLeeds United’s entire season changed in the away dressing at the Etihad Stadium. It was there at half time of a match against Manchester City in late-November that Daniel Farke changed his team’s formation and approach. Noah Okafor didn’t feature much, only coming off the bench for the final eight minutes.Okafor struggled in the first half of the season. Signed from AC Milan last summer to be a difference-maker for the Elland Road outfit, the Swiss international found himself on the bench for the visit to City. Some had already written him off as a flop and proof of Leeds’ perceived mistakes in the transfer market.Okafor player traits compared to similar players in top 5 leaguesA lot has changed since then. While Leeds appeared destined for an immediate return to the Championship not so long ago, Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth moved the Whites on to 40 points, nine points above the relegation zone. Okafor has been a driving force behind their dramatic turnaround.Indeed, the 25-year-old has contributed five goals and three assists in his last eight appearances in all competitions, proving himself as the threat in the final third that Leeds signed him to be. If Farke’s side are to confirm their place in the Premier League next season, they’ll have a lot to thank Okafor for.Okafor’s shooting numbers in the Premier LeagueLukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the only Leeds players averaging more shots on target per 90 this season than Okafor with the Swiss attacker leading his teammates for dribbles per 90. His influence is obvious to anyone that has watched Leeds over the last few months. By changing to a 3-4-2-1 formation, Farke was able to remould Leeds into one of the most effective quick transition teams in the Premier League. This suited Okafor who first caught the eye of a wider audience playing for Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrians, like most Red Bull-associated teams, tend to play in quick transition.At AC Milan and Napoli, Okafor was never more than a depth option. Leeds, however, signed the Swiss to deliver big moments and after a period of acclimatisation he is now doing that. Okafor has settled into his role as the perfect all-round attacking threat in one of the dual number 10 positions Leeds deploy behind Calvert-Lewin.In that position, Okafor can start his runs from the left side, with Brenden Aaronson cutting inside from the right. This gives him the necessary angle to get shots away and isolate opposition defenders, making the most of any overloads Leeds’ attacking speed creates in and around the penalty area.A typical Leeds XI this seasonNone of this, however, infringes on Okafor’s freedom. Farke allows him to drift in between the lines, beyond Calvert-Lewin and wherever there is space to be exploited. This was certainly something Okafor did in the recent win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, bagging a brace in the process.“My attitude is that fitness level is so important. We have worked a lot on it. The mindset is also important for the attackers,” said Farke, highlighting the areas Okafor has improved since arriving at Leeds. They should not just be thinking about goals and assists. They need to think about how they can benefit the team, playing a role in pressing and the workload off the ball, helping the wing-backs to close the wings.“If you concentrate on these topics and have a good game, the end product will come automatically. If you think about goals, goals and goals, you will never score. We also speak about things that we want to see tactically, but all the credit goes to him. He’s in fantastic shape and he needs to make sure he stays on it, stays humble and stays hungry and ride the wave as far as possible.”This weekend presents Leeds and Okafor with an opportunity to make a successful season a special one. Farke’s side will take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley at a time when the Stamford Bridge outfit are rudderless following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior as manager during the week.Chelsea have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions with their sole win coming against Port Vale in the last round of the FA Cup. Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as interim manager, making the Blues vulnerable to a Leeds side on an unbeaten run of seven matches.Okafor’s natural talent has been evident since his Salzburg days. It’s only now, however, that his potential has finally been untapped. If Leeds are to get the better of Chelsea at the national stadium this weekend, there’s a good chance Okafor will be the one to produce the memorable moment as he has done in recent times.(Images from IMAGO)You can follow every Leeds game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.With Premier League survival within touching distance, Leeds United can focus on making the FA Cup final for the first time since 1972.By Graham RuthvenLeeds United’s entire season changed in the away dressing at the Etihad Stadium. It was there at half time of a match against Manchester City in late-November that Daniel Farke changed his team’s formation and approach. Noah Okafor didn’t feature much, only coming off the bench for the final eight minutes.Okafor struggled in the first half of the season. Signed from AC Milan last summer to be a difference-maker for the Elland Road outfit, the Swiss international found himself on the bench for the visit to City. Some had already written him off as a flop and proof of Leeds’ perceived mistakes in the transfer market.Okafor player traits compared to similar players in top 5 leaguesA lot has changed since then. While Leeds appeared destined for an immediate return to the Championship not so long ago, Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth moved the Whites on to 40 points, nine points above the relegation zone. Okafor has been a driving force behind their dramatic turnaround.Indeed, the 25-year-old has contributed five goals and three assists in his last eight appearances in all competitions, proving himself as the threat in the final third that Leeds signed him to be. If Farke’s side are to confirm their place in the Premier League next season, they’ll have a lot to thank Okafor for.Okafor’s shooting numbers in the Premier LeagueLukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the only Leeds players averaging more shots on target per 90 this season than Okafor with the Swiss attacker leading his teammates for dribbles per 90. His influence is obvious to anyone that has watched Leeds over the last few months. By changing to a 3-4-2-1 formation, Farke was able to remould Leeds into one of the most effective quick transition teams in the Premier League. This suited Okafor who first caught the eye of a wider audience playing for Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrians, like most Red Bull-associated teams, tend to play in quick transition.At AC Milan and Napoli, Okafor was never more than a depth option. Leeds, however, signed the Swiss to deliver big moments and after a period of acclimatisation he is now doing that. Okafor has settled into his role as the perfect all-round attacking threat in one of the dual number 10 positions Leeds deploy behind Calvert-Lewin.In that position, Okafor can start his runs from the left side, with Brenden Aaronson cutting inside from the right. This gives him the necessary angle to get shots away and isolate opposition defenders, making the most of any overloads Leeds’ attacking speed creates in and around the penalty area.A typical Leeds XI this seasonNone of this, however, infringes on Okafor’s freedom. Farke allows him to drift in between the lines, beyond Calvert-Lewin and wherever there is space to be exploited. This was certainly something Okafor did in the recent win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, bagging a brace in the process.“My attitude is that fitness level is so important. We have worked a lot on it. The mindset is also important for the attackers,” said Farke, highlighting the areas Okafor has improved since arriving at Leeds. They should not just be thinking about goals and assists. They need to think about how they can benefit the team, playing a role in pressing and the workload off the ball, helping the wing-backs to close the wings.“If you concentrate on these topics and have a good game, the end product will come automatically. If you think about goals, goals and goals, you will never score. We also speak about things that we want to see tactically, but all the credit goes to him. He’s in fantastic shape and he needs to make sure he stays on it, stays humble and stays hungry and ride the wave as far as possible.”This weekend presents Leeds and Okafor with an opportunity to make a successful season a special one. Farke’s side will take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley at a time when the Stamford Bridge outfit are rudderless following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior as manager during the week.Chelsea have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions with their sole win coming against Port Vale in the last round of the FA Cup. Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as interim manager, making the Blues vulnerable to a Leeds side on an unbeaten run of seven matches.Okafor’s natural talent has been evident since his Salzburg days. It’s only now, however, that his potential has finally been untapped. If Leeds are to get the better of Chelsea at the national stadium this weekend, there’s a good chance Okafor will be the one to produce the memorable moment as he has done in recent times.(Images from IMAGO)You can follow every Leeds game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.