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Ross McCormack believes the Leeds United players have shown their true feelings for Daniel Farke

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Former Leeds United forward Ross McCormack believed the players showed how they truly feel about Daniel Farke with their performance against Manchester City.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke was under intense pressure heading into the game, having watched his side slip down the Premier League table.

Although Leeds fell to a defeat at the Etihad Stadium, Farke’s squad showed plenty of fight as goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha temporarily pulled the Whites level.

The game was overshadowed by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s controversial injury treatment, which allowed Pep Guardiola to deliver an impromptu team talk to help his team regroup.

However, despite the defeat, former Leeds man Ross McCormack asserted that the Whites had shown their commitment to Farke in the loss.

Who was your Leeds MOTM against Manchester City?

Daniel Farke of Leeds United
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ross McCormack believes Leeds United are still playing for Daniel Farke

Speaking to Stadium Astro after Leeds’ defeat against Man City, McCormack praised Leeds for their second-half performance at the Etihad.

McCormack echoed Graham Smyth’s view that Leeds’ second-half performance showed the players still wanted to play for the under-fire Leeds boss.

The former Leeds striker said: “What they’ve produced in that second half for me answers a lot of questions. There’s been a lot of talk about Daniel Farke’s future.

“If the players weren’t behind him, they wouldn’t have been able to give half of what they did in the second half. So that shows a lot for me.

Daniel Farke and Pep Guardiola.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

“But Man City were probably spooked for the first 30 minutes of the second half. No one has seen Leeds go to two up front, three at the back.

“So they’re probably thinking, what’s going on here? But in the end, I think cream always rises to the top.”

Leeds United need points over performances to save Daniel Farke

While Farke will be pleased that his side showed fight in the second half against City, the harsh reality is that Leeds remain in the bottom three after 13 games of the season.

The loss against Pep Guardiola’s side was Leeds’ eighth defeat of the season and their sixth in the last seven games, as they risk losing pace in the survival bid.

A performance to be proud of after that first-half showing! Relive what turned out to be a frustrating afternoon here 😤

Leeds need to carry the form from the closing stages of their defeat at the Etihad into their next game against Chelsea, and hope that the added boost from the Elland Road crowd helps get them over the line.

If Leeds lose against Chelsea, Farke will have overseen five consecutive defeats. No matter how promising the performances are, the 49ers may be forced into a decision if this is the case.