🔗 Share this article

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

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied following the break after a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, 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 reversed their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted 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 United suffered four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second period display provided enough evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and climbing up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the game and after the game. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody 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 period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"