Daniel Farke ahead of Leeds United's clash with Man City
Daniel Farke believes his players can take some confidence out of the way they came back from two down to rattle Manchester City at their Etihad Stadium.
It did not look like there would be much in the way of positives to take from a first half in which the Whites were behind from the first minute and looked a class below their hosts.
But after a switch of formation to a back three system and two up front at the break – and no doubt some sharp words from manager Farke – it was a different story in the second period as United pushed City back and had them so confused at one point that their players were called to a sideline team talk when goalkeeper Gianlugi Donnarumma claimed to be injured so a break was called.
Leeds' fortunes changed with goals from their two second half strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha only for their hopes of a valuable point to be dashed by an injury-time goal by Phil Foden.
Lukas Nmecha strikes his penalty at Manchester City that was to be saved before he netted from the rebound.placeholder image
Lukas Nmecha strikes his penalty at Manchester City that was to be saved before he netted from the rebound.
Man of the match Foden had earlier scored the early opener and was a class apart in the game. It was also the second game in a row that the Whites were undone by a double from an England attacking midfielder.
And it is six defeats in their last seven matches for Leeds with in-form Chelsea next up on Wednesday night, but Farke saw some good aspects from his team.
He said: "Congratulations to Pep and Man City, we played the most successful side in the UK in the last decade and one of the best in the world. If you have such a start and concede after 40 seconds after unlucky results in the last weeks of course it does something with the lads.
“We changed at half-time a little bit. We had the same principles in our pressing against the ball but I was not happy with our execution and we changed our structure in possession to have more control and passing angles against their pressing.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin about to score for Leeds United as he challenges Matheus Nunez.placeholder image
Dominic Calvert-Lewin about to score for Leeds United as he challenges Matheus Nunez.
“We got more and more control and belief. The lads showed a fantastic second half, fully deserved the equaliser.
“I think both teams could have won it. Man City is a side full of superstars and class, one moment of magic, Phil Foden through many legs, it was a decisive moment for them. Heartbreak and unlucky for our players, they should take lots of pride and confidence."
On the new formation he came up with for the second half, Farke added: “We're always prepared to play in a 3-5-2, it would be too easy to reduce it to this.
"If the answer of how to win here and dominate against a side who has won every title you could win was just to play 3-5-2 then many teams would win here.
Pascal Struijk tussles with Erling Haaland.placeholder image
Pascal Struijk tussles with Erling Haaland.
“It's not that simple. It's about the principles, how you want to play against the ball. The execution was now how we planned during the whole week.
“The structure gave us more clarity but in possession we still had one striker and one a bit more flexible. It was helpful to gain control back.
“If it's just that easy, we play 3-5-2 and we just win and perform at a top level, then anyone could be a Premier League manager. It has to fit to a game, to a structure. How Man City played, the way they pressed, for that it was right.
“We couldn't have done it against Aston Villa, they had a completely different structure in the pressing and were sitting deeper.
Leeds United players and manager Daniel Farke thank the fans at the end of the Manchester City game.placeholder image
Leeds United players and manager Daniel Farke thank the fans at the end of the Manchester City game.
“To come here and play man against man like we did in parts of the second half, to do it over 90 minutes against so many sides as a newly-promoted side is not that possible.”
Leeds could not have made a worse start as Willy Gnonto, back in the starting line-up after injury, did not chase back with Mateus Nunes and the City right-back's low cross was volleyed in by Foden.
A Whites side with five changes made from the one that lost to Villa were not overrun in the early stages, but rarely threatened their opponents in the first half apart from a couple of long balls that Dan James got on the end of without being able to deliver.
Their only shot of the half was a Nmecha strike from the edge of the box that flew over.
There was some good last ditch defending, however, with James Justin coming up with a fantastic block to deny Foden and Pascal Struijk doing well to deny Erling Haaland as he threatened in the air.
Foden was next denied by a fine save from Lucas Perri after he smashed in a terrific shot from a tough angle that looked to be flying into the top corner.
Manchester City about to go two up as Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri does not get to the ball from a corner.placeholder image
Manchester City about to go two up as Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri does not get to the ball from a corner.
Relief this time was only temporary, however, as from the resulting corner Nico O'Reilly outjumped Perri and the ball fell for Josko Gvardiol to poke home from close range.
Tiijani Reijnders went close to adding to the lead with a 20-yard strike and saw another well struck shot deflected wide by Struijk after moments earlier Perri had saved with his feet from Nico Gonzalez’s shot.
An easier save kept out O'Reilly's header as the half drew to a close and City were good value for their two-goal lead.
If the start to the first half had stunned Leeds the boot was on the other foot in the second as it was United who quickly struck after putting on Calvert-Lewin up front and Jaka Bijol at the back, with wingers James and Gnonto sacrificed.
The new system brought almost instant rewards as Ethan Ampadu got in a shot that had to be well blocked by Reijnders with the keeper beaten then they won the ball high up the pitch and Ao Tanaka found Calvert-Lewin.
It looked like the striker had missed the chance as he tried to turn, but instead of clearing the ball Nunez played the ball back into the path of Calvert-Lewin who scored from close range.
Leeds sensed they could not get something out of the game and with City clearly rattled they were awarded a penalty when Calvert-Lewin raced onto a neat little head on by Jayden Bogle and was brought down by Gvardiol.
Nmecha, up against the club he started with, saw his spot kick well saved by Donnarumma, but followed up to score from the rebound and it was 2-2.
It was real game now and the intensity turned up a few notches. Leeds continued to try and press, but their hosts started to creep back into things as Jeremy Doku's cross-shot was parried by Perri and cleared at the back post by Struijk.
Haaland, who did not have many touches in the game, finally had a chance, but his header under pressure was easily saved by Perri, who also kept out a header by substitute Omar Marmoush.
The board went up for 10 minutes added time so it was always going to be a tough ask for United to hold out as they were now getting pushed back and City came up with their winner a minute into injury-time as Foden finished superbly after finding space just inside the box.
The Whites had a go to equalise again, but a third goal evaded them as Bijol glanced a header wide from a free-kick.
(Foden 1, 90+1, Gvardiol 25)
(Calvert-Lewin 48, Nmecha 68)
Premier League
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Attendance: 55,097
City: Donnarumma; Nunez, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Reijnders (Cherki 75); Silva (Marmoush 88), Foden, Doku (Stones 90+6); Haaland.
Leeds: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Justin (Gudmundsson 69); Ampadu, Gruev, Tanaka (Aaronson 90+3); James (Bijol 45), Gnonto (Calvert-Lewin 45), Nmecha (Okafor 81).
Referee: Peter Bankes.
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