🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the interval following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and altered the formation a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds lost four successive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current form and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the game, during the game and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds United can take a lot from this performance with the manner they have played in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"