Leeds United left the Etihad with no points, but plenty of anger, after a strange moment in the game sparked a huge debate.
Former Shay Given footballer and now one of the well-known BBC football pundits said Man City “bent the rules” when Gianluigi Donnarumma went down during the match.
The 3-2 defeat was painful for Leeds, especially after they came back from 2-0 down.
But the moment that upset many Leeds fans was the Leeds incident, where Donnarumma stayed on the ground, giving Pep Guardiola a free chance to hold what looked like a mini team talk.
Many BBC pundits and other sports pundit have now reacted, and the comments are not kind to Manchester City.
Shay Given Says City Took Advantage
Shay Given, who works as a strong voice on BBC Sport these days, did not hold back at all.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, the former City keeper said what he saw was “cheating in the modern game.”
Given that said City got a moment they should not have had. Donnarumma’s injury break allowed Guardiola to gather the whole team, bring out the tactics board, and give instructions almost like a timeout.
Given said: “It’s bending the rules or whatever you want to call it. It’s cheating. Pep should not be allowed to pull the players in and talk tactics, but that’s what happened.”
The moment annoyed Leeds fans, who already feel many close calls have gone against them this season.
Leeds are fighting for survival, and moments like this can change games.
Leeds Fought Hard and Showed Real Spirit
Despite everything, Leeds actually played one of their best games of the season.
They looked beaten 2-0 down, but Daniel Farke’s side didn’t give up.
They came out strong in the second half, created big chances, and found a way to level the score.
Leeds ended the match with:
- Three big chances created
- 1.54 xG
- A late heartbreak after Phil Foden’s goal in stoppage time
Even with the controversial break, Leeds battled City in their own stadium and almost walked away with a shock result.
It showed the players still have belief, and the fans saw a fight they haven’t always seen this season.
Tough Games Ahead, but Leeds Can Still Hurt Big Teams
Leeds now head into a tough spell with Chelsea and Liverpool coming to Elland Road.
On paper, these games look scary, especially with Farke under pressure.
But if the Man City performance showed anything, it’s that Leeds can cause real problems to top teams.
Chelsea look unsettled, missing important players like Moisés Caicedo and with Cole Palmer not fully ready.
Liverpool is struggling badly under Arne Slot, their worst spell yet.
Leeds could easily be the “banana skin” team. Big sides might think they can walk through Leeds, but with the spirit shown at the Etihad, that is not guaranteed.
This is where Leeds must stay sharp. Moments like the Donnarumma break cannot distract them.
Leeds proved they can stand up to the best. Now they must turn that into points.
The Donnarumma moment will continue to spark debate, especially among BBC football pundits and fans who follow fairness in the game.
Shay Given, now a respected sports pundit, made his opinion clear, and many Leeds supporters agree with him.
But in the middle of all the drama, Leeds showed heart, courage, and quality.
The team may be in a survival battle, but the performance against Manchester City proves one thing, Leeds still have a real chance.
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