Former Leeds United forward Michael Bridges has expressed his sympathy for one Leeds United man who was “sacrificed” in the defeat against Manchester City.
Leeds looked set for a long afternoon when Phil Foden opened the scoring for Man City in the first minute of the Premier League clash.
However, Daniel Farke rang the changes after his side went 2-0 down, making two changes at half-time to bring on goalscorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin and centre back Jaka Bijol, switching to a new system with three central defenders.
The change paid dividends as Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha pulled Leeds level before a late Foden goal broke Leeds’ hearts in the last minute.
Bridges expressed his sympathy for Dan James after the game, as his frustrating season continued at the Etihad Stadium.
Who was your Leeds MOTM against Manchester City?
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Michael Bridges feels sorry for Leeds United man Dan James
Speaking to LUTV after the game, Bridges praised Farke for being proactive with his changes early to change the direction of travel against Man City.
However, Bridges expressed his sympathy for James and Willy Gnonto after they were sacrificed at half-time in the heartbreaking defeat.
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Bridges said: “Daniel Farke has been criticised. I hear a lot of fans saying – the changes come too late in games, it’s always the same. Well, no, he made a great decision at half-time, and the change in personnel, taking off Willy Gnonto, taking off Dan James.
“I feel for Dan James, to be fair, and Willy, but you’ve got to be sacrificed for certain reasons. And it was a change in system, and it was a system that he might have thought about before the game.
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“That we might have gone with three centre-halves with wing-backs, and I tell you what, second half, the way the players galvanised, got back into this game, and really put City on the back foot.
“It was very impressive, and there are so many positives to take out of that performance in the second half.”
Dan James’ frustrating Premier League run continues
Dan James played a key role in Leeds’ promotion from the Championship, regularly starting on the right wing of Farke’s first-choice attack.
However, he has found life harder in the Premier League this season after he lost his place in the Leeds team through injury.
Phil Foden gives Daniel Farke credit for his half-time switch🗣️
“It’s up there as one of the wildest games. We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half and we couldn’t get going.”
Phil Foden after Leeds’ 3-2 loss to Man City
James’ previous start ahead of the game against Man City came at the end of August in Leeds’ 0-0 draw against Newcastle. Since then, James has not played more than an hour for Leeds.
With Farke’s new-look system paying dividends against Man City, James may find his opportunities in the first team even more limited as Farke battles to save his job.
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