🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the interval following a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the resumption

And with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within 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 keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to leave them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a bold choice at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Farke said that "their main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the points," the manager continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have played in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"