🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue new directions during the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this season

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that almost turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair in attack and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered sufficient proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their present form and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the points," Farke continued

"We had the belief before the game, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City centre-backs"

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