Gnonto struggles as Leeds lose to Man City and Farke’s tactical decision could spell further doom | OneFootball

Leeds United fought hard to come back from two goals down, netting Manchester City twice, but the Whites ultimately lost the Premier League match-up 3-2.

Despite losing, there are many positives for Leeds to take from the clash. The Peacocks showed grit and determination to bounce back from adversity.

However, a few Leeds stars will not be happy with their performance, especially in the first half. Winger Wilfried Gnonto is one of those.

The 22-year-old broke into the starting XI, replacing Noah Okafor, but endured a frustrating afternoon.

While he did his best to help Daniel Farke’s side defensively, his attacking output was lacking.

He could not muster a shot and didn’t complete a dribble. He also lost possession eight times.

The Yorkshire Evening Post gave him a 4/10 rating and blamed him for not doing enough defensively for the opener.

Gnonto and Daniel James came off for striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and centre-back Jaka Bijol at half-time.

Farke changed to a 3-5-2 and looked better in that formation until City’s quality prevailed.

That switch to a 3-5-2 didn’t just stabilise Leeds, it transformed them.

With Calvert-Lewin offering a focal point and the extra defender tightening Leeds’ rearguard, Farke had a structure that looked more robust.

They surprised City tactically and were far more capable of absorbing pressure.

It’s no surprise the manager stuck with it for the remainder of the match, and the improvement was noticeable.

But while the system suited the team, it may spell trouble for Gnonto.

A 3-5-2 leaves no natural role for an out-and-out winger, and based on Sunday’s showing, Farke may be tempted to double down on the shape in the future.

If the German tactician believes this is the blueprint to drag Leeds out of trouble, Gnonto could quickly find himself squeezed out of the starting picture.

For a player already battling for consistency, the timing could not be worse.