There was bravery, there was courage, and there was tactical nous from Daniel Farke on Saturday. Yet, it was still not enough to secure a point for Leeds United against Manchester City.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, Leeds had lost five of the previous six, only beating West Ham at Elland Road amidst a run that had seen Leeds lose to Tottenham, Burnley, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Villa.
The pressure is mounting on Daniel Farke… should Leeds United sack him?⌛
A trip to The Etihad then did not give Leeds fans much hope. Even worse when Daniel Farke’s side had gone behind after 40 seconds, and were 2-0 down when Josko Gvardiol bundled home from a corner.
But Farke changed formation at half-time and it had City scrambling. Out of nowhere, Leeds came back to level the game 2-2, only to concede a harsh late goal with Foden the star of the show on Saturday.
A huge improvement, but Leeds United lose yet again
That second half was up there with Leeds’ best performances all season. It had a bit of everything, not least from Farke who has been criticised for being reactive, and not changing formation when it’s needed.
Farke switched to a 3-5-2 at the break, and it instantly worked. One of two subs, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, proved a menace. The striker scored one and won a penalty, which Lukas Nmecha eventually netted.
Yet, it resulted in a fourth consecutive loss and a sixth defeat in seven. Farke’s tenure is under massive threat, even if LeedsUnited.News understands the 49ers are keen to avoid any knee-jerk decisions.
Tim Sherwood, though, believes Farke will be sacked in the next week, with Chelsea and Liverpool to come next. He told Sky Sports on Saturday: “He will get sacked within the next three games. 100%.
Phil Foden gives Daniel Farke credit for his half-time switch🗣️
“I don’t think he should, I think they should keep hold of him because he’s getting the best out of the group. People will say they spent £100m, but they’re way behind and have a lot of Championship players.
“A lot of established Premier League teams are spending more, so they’re going further ahead. He will get sacked because they won’t sit on their hands. They can’t change the players, they’ll change the manager.”
Who is in contention to replace Daniel Farke at Leeds United?
It almost feels harsh to replace Farke after Saturday’s display, but it is still a defeat for the German gaffer. Leeds are firmly planted in the bottom three and have Brentford to thank for beating Burnley late on.
Reports prior to the game touted Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou as contenders, with Rodgers said to be keen on the job if offered. However, Bo Svensson is not in any rush to consider Elland Road.
The former Union Berlin man remains on their payroll despite being sacked in 2024. Other names have been linked, with Ally McCoist suggesting Steven Gerrard, but the focus remains very much on Farke.
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