Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has indicated that his team were taken aback by Leeds United in the second half today, before they recovered to secure the three points with an injury-time winner.
Leeds appeared to be on their way to a heavy defeat at the Etihad earlier today when Phil Foden scored the first goal for the home team even before a minute was played on the clock.
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The Whites were staring down the barrel after they were 2-0 before half-time, and were looking like a team who were about to get their manager sacked.
However, Farke tweaked the system during the break, and Leeds came out firing in the second half with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha scoring to level the game.
Foden scored an injury-time winner to break Leeds hearts. However, Guardiola is aware that his team were lucky to escape with all three points today.
Pep Guardiola compared Leeds United to Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester City were beaten at home by Leverkusen in the Champions League this week, and those memories haunted the Spaniard in the second half at the Etihad.
He admitted that once Farke changed the system and the formation, his side could not deal with Leeds and needed some time to adjust, which led to the two goals from Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha.
However, he insisted that it is nice to win games like this when the team are not playing at their best, and still find a way to get the job done.
“Daniel changed the system, and they played like Leverkusen – 5-3-2”, Guardiola told after the game.
“Calvert-Lewin played on the long balls, and after we concede the first goal in the first instance, we took our time to adjust.
“It’s nice to win this type of game.”
Leeds are still staring down at relegation
Farke showed today that he can be adaptable when he wants to be, and in the second half, Leeds did put Manchester City under immense pressure.
However, the Leeds boss did hang back after the scores were levelled and the Whites again sat back too deep, inviting pressure on from Manchester City.
Foden’s goal was the result of Leeds forgetting what got them back into the game after the break and reverting to type, which has not succeeded this season.
Leeds have now lost six of their last seven and are on a four-game losing streak in the Premier League, which has further sunk them deep in the relegation zone.
The Whites will host an in-form Chelsea side at home on Wednesday night, and this performance would mean nothing if they don’t get something at Elland Road in four days’ time.
Farke is not safe yet, and still needs points to continue as Leeds manager.
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