Things were looking bleak for Leeds United boss Daniel Farke.
But, after the final whistle against Chelsea on Wednesday, the German walked out to the crowd with a broad smile on his face.
Leeds, who started the day in the relegation zone with 11 points from 13 games, ended a four-game losing streak with an impressive 3-1 win against Enzo Maresca’s Blues.
Having lost six of their last seven matches, pressure was mounting on Farc and there was increasing speculation over their future after a string of poor results.
Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel said, “Sources have told BBC Sport that the process of identifying potential candidates to replace Farke has begun.”
“It is not unusual for clubs to undertake succession planning for their managerial position without regard to the job security of the incumbent.
“But Leeds’ poor form, which left them in the relegation zone before Wednesday’s win, has put significant pressure on Farke – who is helping to drive the club’s movement towards identifying potential successors to the German.
But Farke’s side looked re-energized at Elland Road as they had shots to climb out of the bottom three against title contenders Chelsea.
Farke told BBC Match of the Day, “For nights like this, we were very desperate to get the club back to the top level. Elland Road was back to its best.”
“A fantastic turnaround from my boys, a great performance against one of the best teams in the world.”
Questions may remain over Farke’s condition, but this win provides a much-needed morale boost for the Leeds players and fans.
“It’s a massive result for Daniel Farke,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I don’t know if he would have lost his job if they had lost this game, but a lot of people would be calling for his head.”