The match between Leeds and Manchester City saw Leeds fighting back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half to level the game. However, controversy arose when there were allegations that Donnarumma faked an injury to allow Guardiola to provide instructions to his team. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett criticized Man City for this incident, labeling it as cheating in the modern game.
Further commentary on the incident has come from Shay Given, an active pundit for BBC Sport for the 2025-26 season. Given expressed his disapproval, stating that Man City’s actions amounted to bending the rules or cheating in an attempt to gain an advantage over Leeds.
Despite Leeds’ valiant effort and creating significant chances against City, ultimately culminating in a noteworthy performance, a stoppage-time goal from Phil Foden denied them a positive result to show for their efforts.
Daniel Farke, under immense pressure to secure results for Leeds in their battle for Premier League survival, faced an encouraging display from his team against a tough opponent like City. The upcoming fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool present additional challenges for Leeds, but their ability to compete with big sides, as demonstrated in the City match, offers hope for potential upsets against top teams.
Although facing formidable opponents, the unpredictability of football leaves room for Leeds to potentially surprise Chelsea and Liverpool, especially given the varying circumstances such as key absences in the opposition teams. Despite the tough road ahead, Leeds still have a fighting chance to secure positive results and potentially turn the tide in their favor.
