Leeds United have lost only two games since that revival at Saturday's opponents Manchester City in November
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
16:16, 24 Feb 2026
Ethan Ampadu gave a brief overview of what unfolded
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Ethan Ampadu gave a brief overview of what unfolded(Image: LUTV)
Half-time at Manchester City back on November 29 will be seen as a sliding doors moment in Leeds United’s season, and captain Ethan Ampadu has explained what was said during that break at the Etihad Stadium.
Leeds had been second best in the first half, going in 2-0 down with Daniel Farke’s position under increasing scrutiny. A switch to the back-three formation amid the injury to Daniel James sparked a revival.
Leeds drew back to 2-2 by 68 minutes with substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin getting one back four minutes after the restart. he then won the penalty that saw Lukas Nmecha guide home the rebound from Gianluigi Donnarumma’s save.
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It was ultimately Phil Foden’s 91st-minute strike that saw Leeds sink to a 3-2 loss but the performance gave United hope and the next week saw Leeds register the 3-1 win over Chelsea and 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
Since that defeat at Man City - who visit Elland Road on Saturday - Leeds have lost just twice. A lot has been made about what happened in the dressing room at half-time in that November meeting and Ampadu gave his summary.
“That half time, it felt like we all had to remind ourselves what it takes to play in a Leeds United shirt, and what you’ve got to give and the basics of running around, working hard and fighting. Having that belief in ourselves,” he told the official Leeds United podcast.
“In a game any manager, and our manager, can tweak stuff all the time. But when you have that belief… and then you have a positive performance, I think that helps create belief and momentum.
“We’ve been riding and pushing that. I think that’s what’s been the change more than anything else.”
A few weeks after that game, Brenden Aaronson would describe how Calvert-Lewin had ‘got everybody going’ at the break at Man City. “He’s the guy who talks you through training and games, the guy who is there for you after bad games,” he added.
Leeds United's Lukas Nmecha celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Man City with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ilia Gruev
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Leeds United's Lukas Nmecha celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Man City with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ilia Gruev(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Calvert-Lewin is the Leeds striker with the most Premier League experience by some distance, as is the case for Sean Longstaff when it comes to midfielders with the 28-year-old already becoming a prominent dressing room figure.
After Leeds’ first goal against Bournemouth in September’s 2-2 draw, he gathered teammates in a huddle to encourage them to hold faith in themselves as a Premier League club. Against Manchester United in January, he was named in the squad for his character despite still being injured.
“When you’ve got players like Sean and Dom, who have been in the Premier League and done it in the Premier League and they feed that confidence into us that we are more than good enough - it definitely helps boost us,” said Ampadu.
“For lots of players, it is their first time in the Premier League, so to hear those players push that on us - then the body of evidence [when] you have the results to match that - it does drive everyone.”
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Leeds go into Saturday’s game against title challengers Man City six points clear of the drop zone, having lost just one home game - to title favourite Arsenal - since their trip to the Etihad.