Savinho and £31m star – Three Man City players who must be axed vs Leeds after Bayer Leverkusen calamity
Pep Guardiola must make some serious changes after losing to Bayer Leverkusen meant back-to-back defeats for the second time this season.
Man City lost 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, 25 November, failing to score for just the third time in 2025-26, and it was no coincidence after the decision was made to rest Erling Haaland.
Haaland has already netted 19 goals across all competitions, but with very few of those around him producing half the numbers, the Citizens clearly struggled in front of goal in the Champions League.
Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick stunned the stadium into silence, with a smattering of boos being heard at full-time, and the team will really be tested by Leeds United on Saturday, 29 November.
With that game in mind, Football Insider has chosen three players who simply have to be dropped ahead of the Whites’ visit to the Etihad.
Savinho
Savinho has done little to convince Man City fans of his talents on the flank, and that certainly will not have changed after his invisible display against Leverkusen.
The Brazilian failed to create any chances, skewed his only shot off target, completed just 44 per cent of his 9 nine dribbled, accurately delivered 14 per cent of his crosses, and lost seven ground duels [FotMob].
Somehow, Guardiola allowed him to stay on right until the end, hooking Oscar Bobb at half-time instead, but fans will have been furious. There’s no way he can start against Leeds.
Rico Lewis
Another player hooked at half-time was Rico Lewis, being replaced by Phil Foden for the second half, and he looked completely out of his depth against Leverkusen.
Given that he came through the academy, supporters are likelier to give the 21-year-old a break, but if City are to get back to winning ways on Saturday, Lewis either needs to be dropped or moved to full-back.
However, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Matheus Nunes both available at right-back, Guardiola has multiple options in the position ahead of the weekend.
Rayan Ait-Nouri
Despite Man City splashing £31million on Rayan Ait-Nouri [BBC Sport], the former Wolves man has struggled to find his feet at the Etihad Stadium, being outshone by youngster Nico O’Reilly.
Given that the 20-year-old was chucked on at half-time, supporters will be expecting him to start against Leeds. That would, therefore, mean Ait-Nouri being dropped to the bench once again, though.