- 1 day ago
Farke on Leeds fight back as City late winner breaks fans hearts
29/11/2025
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK
29/11/2025
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Daniel, I think we saw two different Leeds teams in that game. Can you explain why things change so drastically?
00:10First of all, congratulations to Pep and Man City. We played here today one of the best sides, not just in the UK,
00:16the most successful side in the last decade here in the UK. One of the best sides in the world and definitely the best manager in the world.
00:24But if you have such a start and concede only after 40 seconds, the one null after unlucky results we had in the last weeks,
00:32of course it does something also with the Leeds. We also spoke about how important set pieces are.
00:40If you want to travel away here out of the Etihad with points, normally you have to win the set piece scoreline at least to draw it.
00:47And if you then concede out of a corner, it's so, so difficult. So many setbacks also in the first half.
00:56We changed in the half-time a little bit. In our pressing, we had the same principles in our pressing against the ball,
01:04but I was not really happy with our execution. This was way better in the second half.
01:09Obviously we changed also our structure in possession, then to gain more control over the game,
01:14to have different passing angles against City's pressing and gut by doing this and also more and more control
01:22and also belief back in our game. Let's show the fantastic second half, I think, fully deserved to equalise the game.
01:30It was an open game in the last minutes. I think both teams could have won it, of course.
01:36Man City is a site full of superstars and full of class and one moment of magic,
01:40then Phil Foden with a great finish through, also many legs, was in the decisive moment for them,
01:51really heartbreak and unlucky for my players, but they should take lots of pride and lots of confidence,
01:59especially in the second half performance, so normally we would have deserved to take something out of this game.
02:04Although we are disappointed because we didn't come here for warm words or compliments,
02:12we came here, we wanted to win some points, so the overriding feeling is right now a disappointment,
02:17but after so many sucker punches against such a good side in the away game and here at the Etihad,
02:24then to show such a performance should give us lots of belief.
02:28and if my players show further on this heart and this spirit, this togetherness and also this quality,
02:35then we have a great chance also to win the points that we need.
02:38Having two up top seemed to give you much more presence against them.
02:43Is that something that you would consider from the start against a good side at home next week?
02:48It's always possible.
02:49So we are always prepared also to play in a 3-5-2, but I think it would be also too easy to just reduce it on this.
02:58So it's more or less like if the answer is how to win yet at the Etihad and how to dominate the game
03:04against such a top, top side with one more or less each of your titles that you could win in the last decade,
03:10it's just, okay, we just play two up front and 3-5-2.
03:14Many teams would win here, so it's not that easy.
03:18It's about the principles, it's about the way you want to play in possession against the ball.
03:26Today, to change against the ball, we have played more or less a similar setup or wanted to play a similar setup,
03:32but the execution was not like we planned during the whole week.
03:35That's why I reacted to us at halftime.
03:37Yes, in possession, of course, the structure gave us more clarity, but it was still that more like in possession,
03:46we just had more or less one striker really up front and one striker was a bit more flexible behind him.
03:52So it's always an option that we can play, so we are prepared for different scenarios.
03:57And today, it was also helpful in the second half to gain control back, yes.
04:01The 5-3-2 was so effective in that second half, it's the best thing we've seen in several weeks, really.
04:07So why have you not used it earlier this season, why have you not used it prior to this game?
04:12Like I said, it's just that easy, we play 5-3-2 and then we win each of the games and perform always on the top level.
04:17If it would be that easy, then probably anyone can be a Premier League manager,
04:24because they say, just play 5-3-2, let's go.
04:27It always has to fit to a game, it has to fit to a structure.
04:31So the structure was like how Man City played today.
04:35The way they pressed for that, it was right, because we had different passing angles.
04:39We couldn't have done it, for example, against Aston Villa the other night,
04:44because they had a completely different structure in the pressing
04:46and also like how they were sitting deep, completely different to what City has done.
04:51And also like to come here to the Athea to play man against man,
04:57like we did in parts of the second half,
04:59to do this each and every game over 90 minutes as a promoted side,
05:02it's also not that often possible.
05:04So we have done it also like we changed our formation several times during this season,
05:092-3-5-2, sometimes even a bit unnoticed.
05:14And it didn't work that well today, it was definitely the right choice to do it in the second half.
05:18It's important that we are flexible, it's important also that we can do this.
05:21But it's also important to do this in a moment when the right players for this setup are also fit.
05:28We had, of course, Lukas Mecha and also Dominic Calvert-Lewin,
05:31and not both on full fitness, for example.
05:35Also Dominic came back right now, thank God, back after his adductor injury,
05:41before Lukas was sometimes struggling with injuries.
05:43Sometimes it's also important to have one more striker on the bench,
05:45but it depends.
05:48So when you don't need wingers to create over the wings,
05:51that you can create even more through the centre,
05:53then you can do this.
05:54And this is what we've done today.
05:56It's always a solution, an option for us,
05:58but not in each of the moments the right solution.
06:01Otherwise, any other team would play here 3-5-2.
06:04How is James just then?
06:05Is he OK?
06:08OK, obviously it was the first time in the starting line-up for him since a while.
06:13It was always a plan after 60 minutes to get him off.
06:17Yes, I think he was just struggling with a little hit,
06:20and you also know injury concerns about him.
06:22I was pleased that he was capable to go for 60 or 65 minutes,
06:26but in my head it was always a plan that he wouldn't play 90 minutes.
06:29So for that, all OK with him.
06:32You made five changes in your line-up, Gabi and Noah dropped out.
06:39Why was that?
06:40And also, how do you think Justin and Nante did today?
06:45Anton Strach, not available.
06:47Sean Longstaff, not available.
06:49So for that, we had to do two changes.
06:51It was even before the game, even thinking about a back three,
06:54but the injury of Sebastian Bonneau left us a bit short in centre-backs.
06:58Didn't want to start the game with all my centre-backs
07:00and no centre-back option on the bench.
07:03This was then the reason that we changed more or less on this position.
07:08Many other thoughts.
07:10Today, we expected not a game like the last game,
07:13so we were a bit more dominant in possession.
07:15Wanted to go, of course, against such a good side,
07:18a bit more on the counter-attack.
07:19Wanted to use then, for example, the pace of Daniel James a bit more
07:23and want to go a bit more direct.
07:26Had also to do with different type of central midfield players,
07:30so we need then in the offence also different type of players.
07:35Had also a bit to do with the performances,
07:37because we have conceded over our left side
07:39too many goals in the last games
07:41and also to do with the set-up right now.
07:45We have three games against top sides within seven days.
07:47We will rotate there naturally a bit more and more often
07:50than we would do in a normal week with just one game.
07:54So many, many thoughts behind it
07:57and this led then to the starting line-up.
07:59Did you spot anything specific in Manchester City's game
08:02in order to change it at half-time?
08:04And what did you say to players at half-time
08:05to inspire them to that performance?
08:09Yes, hopefully I spot something in Manchester City's game,
08:11otherwise it would be the wrong guy here in this chair.
08:13So the feeling was that we didn't have the right passing angles
08:17to bypass that pressing,
08:18to hold the ball better in the central positions.
08:22Not something specific,
08:23but it was like the whole preparation was more or less
08:26like how to defend the channel ones of City,
08:30because this is what they always do.
08:32And for that we defended even in the first half
08:34with the back five,
08:35but the execution was not perfect.
08:37It was a switching back five
08:38and the big chances that they had
08:41were always with channel ones.
08:42So even the first goal
08:43and the chances
08:45and how they were able to create some corner kicks.
08:48So I want to defend this better
08:50than also with different players
08:52in the second half on this position.
08:55And yeah, there were several reasons
08:57why we changed it.
08:58Stuart?
08:59Daniel, Dominic Calvert-Lewin
09:01has been such an important part
09:02of the way you've played
09:03since he's come into the team.
09:04But did you sense that
09:06the longer he went without a goal
09:07afterwards,
09:08it was preying on him in any way?
09:09Yes, of course,
09:12because for offensive players
09:13it's always important.
09:15Everyone counts in the minutes
09:16and just asking,
09:16yeah, good performance,
09:17but you need a goal,
09:18you need a goal.
09:19And it's also like,
09:20for him he's always happy
09:21because we have a great relationship.
09:23Also he's happy
09:23when Lucas for example
09:25scores game after game,
09:26but also perhaps sometimes
09:27he's thinking,
09:28oh, would we also like
09:29to be in this position?
09:30Of course it puts a bit
09:31pressure on him,
09:32but I mentioned several times
09:34it's not like about
09:34I want to win the gold boot
09:36with one of my swikers,
09:37I just want to win survival
09:39in this league.
09:40And this is the only thing
09:40that matters
09:41and thank God
09:42after his injury right now
09:43he's also back to play
09:4445 minutes
09:45or even longer,
09:47that's good
09:47and his quality
09:48is never in doubt
09:50and he's so important for us
09:51and it's good to have him
09:52back fully fit
09:53and also good
09:53for his confidence
09:54that he's also scored
09:55another goal.
09:56When you change
09:57the left-hand side
09:58of your team
09:58to address a problem
10:00in terms of conceding
10:01goals from that side
10:01and you concede
10:02inside a minute
10:03what's going through
10:04your head at that time?
10:07Can't speak public
10:08about it
10:08because I would be
10:09banned from football
10:11because it's not allowed
10:12to swear
10:12so of course
10:13it's more like
10:14if you have such a start
10:15that you concede
10:16exactly about
10:16what you have prepared
10:17the whole week
10:19then after 40 seconds
10:21you're asking yourself
10:22what are we doing
10:23so where is sometimes
10:25in football like this?
10:26Is there football like
10:27in life?
10:27When you think
10:27right now
10:28you have the solution
10:29you do it
10:30in the proper way
10:30there's another second punch
10:31and if you then dwell
10:33under it
10:33you have no chance
10:34it's more like
10:34come on
10:35keep going
10:35show resilience
10:36show reaction
10:38show great heart
10:39show passion
10:40and confidence
10:41it's also what we did
10:42then more or less
10:43in this moment
10:44and yeah
10:45sadly it didn't pay off
10:46with points
10:48but definitely
10:49also with the performance
10:50that the leds
10:50should be proud of.
10:52Anybody else?
10:52Daniel
11:02Daniel
11:03did you feel
11:04it felt like
11:05you had all the momentum
11:06to possibly go and win
11:07until probably
11:09Donnarumma went down
11:11and had treatment
11:12did you
11:13could you feel that
11:14from the side as well?
11:17Yes
11:18Yeah
11:21He seems to be down
11:23quite a while
11:23but not a lot
11:25what did you make of it?
11:30Everyone knows
11:31why he went down
11:32right?
11:33So
11:33it's not like
11:34the elephant in the room
11:36it's more like
11:36you can speak about it
11:37anyhow
11:37so
11:38you can ask me
11:40what I think about it
11:41or whatever
11:41but why he went down
11:42I think it was obvious
11:43anybody else?
11:48Yep
11:48So
11:49England
11:51did the same
11:52and
11:53Spurs have done
11:54the same recently
11:55is this
11:56is it a common tactic
11:57to
11:58for a
12:00goalkeeper
12:00to go down
12:01and then
12:01then you have a team talk
12:02It's within the rules
12:09it's smart
12:12if I like it
12:16if I like it
12:17if it's in the
12:18sense of fair play
12:19if it should be like this
12:21I keep it to myself
12:22I leave it with the authorities
12:24to find solutions for it
12:26it's within the rules
12:31I asked the force official
12:36at this point
12:36do you want to do something
12:39against it?
12:40No
12:40our hands are tied
12:42we can't do anything
12:43we know that this happens
12:44anyhow
12:45but
12:46if we don't
12:48educate
12:49our players
12:55in football
12:56what to do
12:57in terms of
12:59fair play
13:00sportmanship
13:01whatever
13:01and you just try to
13:03bend the rules
13:04somehow
13:04just to your advantage
13:05and you can even
13:09do a fake injury
13:11in order to do
13:13additional team talk
13:14I think it's
13:16nothing
13:17what I personally
13:18like
13:19anyhow
13:19but if it's within the rules
13:21I can't complain
13:22about it
13:23I think we should think about
13:25how we can deal with it
13:26and also how we educate it
13:29so my recommendation was
13:30listen right now
13:31if this happens
13:32do me a favour
13:33and give each and every
13:3550-50 situation
13:36not for the home team
13:37give it more or less like
13:38for the away team
13:40and everyone knows
13:41what is going on
13:43if I'm honest
13:44probably after 90 minutes
13:47after 2-2
13:47I would have blown the whistle
13:48and that's it
13:49more or less like
13:50and not like
13:50additionally
13:51also let the 3 minutes
13:52play further on
13:54I think there are
13:56tools
13:56that you can use
13:57in order to make sure
13:58that this won't happen
14:00but if we don't use
14:02the tools
14:02then probably
14:03we have to change
14:03the rules a little bit
14:04for it
14:05whatever
14:06even the goalkeeper
14:07goes on
14:08there's a reason
14:08why the goalkeeper
14:09goes on
14:09not the field player
14:10anyhow
14:10because the field player
14:11has to go out
14:12anyhow
14:13so whatever
14:14it's not a question
14:16for myself
14:16who am I
14:17I'm a Premier League
14:18manager
14:18and I want to make sure
14:19that my players
14:21perform
14:21and we win
14:22games
14:23it's also not a topic
14:24for me
14:24but
14:25it's more like
14:26I think
14:27for more or less
14:28like
14:28for the authorities
14:30or whatever
14:30to find a solution
14:32because in general
14:33is it in the sense
14:34of the game
14:34is it in the sense
14:35of fair play
14:35I would have my doubts
14:36at least
14:37no I don't
14:45sorry
14:45I don't criticize
14:47my colleague
14:48I don't criticize
14:49Pep
14:50it's also not that
14:50he went down
14:51anyhow
14:51so it's more like
14:52if he has time
14:53to do this
14:54and there is an injury
14:55I would also do
14:56a team talk
14:57anyhow
14:57so but it's not
14:58like he has done
15:00anything
15:00such a great
15:02relationship
15:03anyhow
15:03so for me
15:03Pep
15:04is by far
15:06the best manager
15:07in the world
15:08and also like
15:09to tweaks
15:10and changes
15:10during the game
15:11there's no one
15:12better in this
15:12business
15:13and he does
15:14it not just
15:14in this situation
15:16he does it
15:16in each and
15:17every moment
15:18so there's not
15:20one percent
15:21criticism
15:21on my colleague
15:22on Pep
15:24just like
15:24the fact
15:25that it's
15:25happened
15:26everyone knows
15:26it
15:27and
15:27we have
15:28no tools
15:30so we have
15:30to deal with it
15:31I think there are
15:32tools to deal
15:32with it
15:33or we need
15:33to find
15:34other solutions
15:35because
15:35at least
15:36for my feeling
15:37it's not
15:37in the sense
15:37of the game
15:38I'm a football
15:42manager
15:43I concentrate
15:43on my job
15:44I'm not
15:45the Premier League
15:46chef
15:46anyhow
15:47I'm not
15:47the chef
15:48of the referees
15:49I'm not
15:49the chef
15:50of the
15:50of the
15:51board
15:51we have
15:51more or less
15:52like our
15:52our boards
15:54who do the rules
15:55anyhow
15:55perhaps when I'm
15:5685
15:56anyhow
15:57I will also
15:57be in such a
15:58board
15:58and I can
15:58speak about it
15:59right now
15:59I'm just
16:00concentrating
16:00on keeping
16:01leads up
16:02in this league
16:02so I have
16:04enough to do
16:04with it
16:05so it's
16:05within the rules
16:06anyhow
16:06it's smart
16:07everything's okay
16:08I think we
16:09should change
16:10something
16:10okay
16:11thanks everyone
16:12thank you
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