Why defeat to Manchester City could unlock key to saving Leeds’ season — Independent 30/11/25
Leeds now have seven defeats in eight but a change of tactics against Man City came very close to reaping rewards
Richard Jolly
“We didn’t come here for warm words or compliments,” said
Daniel Farke. By the time he left the Etihad Stadium, he may not have got them.
There was little warmth from Pep Guardiola, delayed getting into the media
theatre as Farke’s press conference became a lengthy affair. And that was
before the Manchester City manager realised it was because his Leeds
counterpart was accusing Gianluigi Donnarumma of gamesmanship to create a
footballing timeout.
Until then, however, Farke was getting the plaudits, if not
the points. Leeds were beaten 3-2. It left Farke with seven defeats in eight,
three points from a possible 24. And yet, perhaps perversely, his position
seemed strengthened. There had been an endorsement of sorts, an illustration of
his prowess.
At half-time, the temptation was to wonder if the German was
entering his final week as Leeds manager. His team were 2-0 down, heading for a
thrashing. With Chelsea and Liverpool next, this looked a fixture list to
finish off a promotion specialist who has never kept a team in the Premier
League. Yet while Phil Foden’s injury-time decider inflicted Leeds’ latest
loss, a turnaround in a game offered fresh optimism Farke can have a similar
impact on his side’s season.
It might be an exaggeration to say Farke saved his job with
a substitution; Leeds would say it was never under such threat. But as their
run could become nine losses in 10, their manager could remain imperilled.
And yet there was something revelatory about a change that
troubled City. Farke may be lumbered with an unwanted image as a manager who
belongs in no-man’s land: too good for the Championship, not good enough for
the Premier League. But his reputation, too, is of a manager whose sides go up
playing 4-2-3-1, whose Norwich got overpowered in the top flight.
And then Farke summoned his inner Alf Ramsey at the interval
at the Etihad, ditching his wingers. Leeds emerged with two strikers, both of
whom scored. They prospered with a forceful brand of football. “We went a bit
more direct,” said Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who came on to score and win a
penalty. “I think with me and Lukas [Nmecha] up front, it provided a different
physical outlet for the team. We played forward and just played with confidence
- we threatened their backline and didn’t give them too much respect.”
If Leeds’ summer recruitment drive was a tall tale, Farke
seeking out sizeable players, almost as an antidote to his Norwich days, the
six-footers Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin arrived with similarly large figures. At
the start of the season, Leeds were goal-shy: now they have four in their last
three games from centre forwards, albeit with too few from wingers.
Some criticisms are being addressed, but not all. Leeds have
conceded 11 goals in their last four matches. Over Farke’s time in the Premier
League, spread across three seasons, his teams have let in more than two a
match. His average is a lowly 0.60 points per game. There have been 11 from 13
outings this season: it is relegation form and yet, both on Saturday and over
the campaign, there have almost been more. Leeds can look at three 90th-minute
goals, winners for Fulham and City, an equaliser for Bournemouth, as examples.
“We've been close in many games but ultimately you have to
turn those nearly moments into our favour and that's what you have to do to
stay in this division,” said Calvert-Lewin, whose experience of relegation
battles includes scoring the goal that kept Everton up in 2022. Farke has noted
how the six teams who went up in the two years before Leeds all came straight
back down; Sunderland, who went up with them, have twice as many points. Yet
Leeds could at least make it closer than their six immediate predecessors.
There have some encouraging signs from Farke’s supersized
signings though the excellent Sean Longstaff is sidelined for several weeks and
the two centre-backs who joined, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, only have
three league starts between them. But Bijol came on with Calvert-Lewin in the
switch to 3-5-2. It was a sign Farke can be more flexible than his critics
acknowledged. Not, he countered, that it as simple as just playing 3-5-2.
“If it would be that easy, anyone can be a Premier League
manager,” he said. He argued it was more a response to his first-half analysis.
“Hopefully I can spot something in Manchester City; otherwise I would be the
wrong guy in this chair,” he added.
As he may be aware, there is an ongoing debate if he is the
wrong guy in the chair; or, at the least, not quite the right guy. Some thought
Leeds should have been ruthless and sacked him after promotion. Their fate this
season could hinge on a huge decision, and if they get it right.
