PEP GUARDIOLA EXPLAINS WHY FARKE WAS 'RILED' BY CITY'S TACTIC
Pep Guardiola admitted he was "relieved" after Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner saved Man City from a Leeds United comeback. The boss analysed the emotional rollercoaster at the Etihad.
Manchester City's coach saw his team grab a late win after Leeds United's impressive comeback in the second half.
Pep Guardiola said he was relieved because his Manchester City team responded well to win after Leeds United came back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game at the Etihad.
Leeds was down 2-0 at halftime. Daniel Farke switched up his formation, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's entrance gave Leeds a stronger presence up front. Calvert-Lewin scored and then earned a penalty, which Lukas Nmecha converted to level the score. But Phil Foden scored in the 91st minute, breaking Leeds' hearts and securing the points for Manchester City.
"I was relieved," Guardiola said. The game wasn't perfect in the second half. It should have been over already, given the chances we had. Daniel changed the system. We gave a goal away. The way we move has to change. At that point, emotions are high. We let in a second goal, but we responded well. We put more players in the box. In the end, Phil's quality made the difference again, helping us win.
Guardiola mentioned Calvert-Lewin's goal, which came in the 49th minute, and the game, as well as how the forward's presence impacted the game. We gave up a goal quickly, he said. Football is about emotions. When Calvert-Lewin plays with Nmecha, it's two against two, and the space is totally different.
The Manchester City coach was also questioned about an incident in the second half when Gianluigi Donnarumma went down and needed treatment for an injury. Guardiola immediately called all of his outfield players for a quick talk. Leeds was in control at that moment, and Farke questioned whether it was fair, even if he didn't want to criticise Guardiola.
To be honest, I didn't speak with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Guardiola said. I told James Trafford to warm up. I honestly don't know what happened. You can ask me next time; I'll ask Donnarumma if he was injured.
I'd love to have a timeout every time. I'm sure if we do that again, the Premier League will fine us again, so it's best if we don't.
THE SEMENYO EFFECT: HOW MAN CITY’S JANUARY SIGNING BECAME THEIR MOST CLINICAL FINISHER YET
No Haaland, no problem: Antoine Semenyo netted his sixth goal in 11 games as Manchester City piled pressure on the Gunners.
Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal gave Manchester City a tough 1-0 win at Leeds, closing the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points.
Semenyo has just kept scoring since he arrived from Bournemouth in January. Right before halftime, he finished off a rare chance with real composure – one shot, one goal – and that’s all City needed.
That’s four league wins in a row for City. Arsenal have to feel the pressure now before their match against Chelsea on Sunday. As for Leeds, they’ll be kicking themselves after wasting several good chances in the first half.
Daniel Farke’s side have only lost three of their last 15 league games, but this one stings – a rare defeat under the Elland Road lights. Leeds still sit six points clear of the drop zone, but they know it could’ve been more.
City played this one without their top scorer, Erling Haaland. He picked up a minor knock in training, so he missed out on facing his boyhood club. Rayan Cherki stepped in as City’s only change from last week’s win over Newcastle. Leeds kept the same lineup that drew with Aston Villa.
Leeds have been fighting for survival ever since Phil Foden’s late winner at the Etihad back in November. Since then, they’ve only lost twice in 14 league games. They almost got off to the perfect start here, too. In just the third minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin somehow sent Brenden Aaronson’s perfect cross wide from right in front of the goal.
The game paused in the 11th minute, so City’s Muslim players could break their Ramadan fast. Soon after, Calvert-Lewin had another go from a tight angle but missed again.
City’s keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, caught a shot from James Justin, and Aaronson fired just wide after a cross from Jayden Bogle. Leeds pressed hard and won the ball high up the pitch, but they couldn’t make it count.
About 15 minutes before halftime, City started to get a grip on the game. Even then, Leeds had another big chance. Aaronson broke free on the counter, but Donnarumma stood firm in a one-on-one. Then City finally threatened: Nico O’Reilly’s header forced a good save from Karl Darlow.
Right before the break, City struck. Rayan Ait-Nouri sprinted down the left, picked out by Cherki’s brilliant pass, and crossed for Semenyo to tap in his sixth goal in 11 City matches.
Leeds came out flying again after halftime. Matheus Nunes blocked Calvert-Lewin in the box with a last-ditch tackle, but City soon settled into their rhythm.
Darlow had to make a spectacular save to deny Marc Guehi’s header. After that, City controlled most of the play, while Leeds worked hard to keep them from creating more clear chances.
Near the end, the home crowd came alive when substitute Jaka Bijol’s header went inches wide. But City held on, securing their 18th league win of the season.
ZEN MASTER: WHY PEP GUARDIOLA REFUSES TO GIVE MIKEL ARTETA ANY TITLE ADVICE
Pep Guardiola speaks out: Read why he won't advise Mikel Arteta, City’s Real Madrid UCL draw, and the plan for Elland Road today.
Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to talk about the pressure of chasing the Premier League title. When someone asked if he had any advice for Mikel Arteta, he just shook his head. “I’m not here to give advice,” he said. “I don’t even remember what that kind of pressure feels like.”
Right now, Guardiola’s Manchester City are five points behind Arsenal, but they’ve got a game in hand. He knows all about tight races; he’s guided City to six titles, plus he’s racked up league trophies with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Arteta, meanwhile, is still hunting for his first.
City have clawed their way back into the fight lately, after a rough patch earlier this year when they only managed one win out of six. Now, people are talking about a dramatic finish to the season, but Guardiola isn’t interested in the hype. For him, it’s all about the next match. “Honestly, I don’t think about it,” he said. “When we went head-to-head with Liverpool a few years back, I didn’t realise it in the moment, and I don’t now. All I’m thinking about is Elland Road.”
On top of that, City just found out they’ll be facing Real Madrid again in the Champions League’s last 16. Guardiola knows the Spanish giants well; he’s faced them 11 times since taking over at City, including a win at the Bernabeu last December. He actually likes these big matchups. “The more you play the best, the more you learn and improve. It pushes the club to get better,” he said.
This time, City go into the Leeds game a bit fresher. For the first time in 2026, they’ve had a couple of weeks without a midweek fixture. Guardiola even gave the squad three days off after beating Newcastle last Saturday. “They’ve trained well these last few days. "Everyone's ready for Elland Road,” he said. “From September onwards, you never get long weeks. But when you do, you have to take advantage. Train less, recover more. That’s how you keep everyone sharp.”
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