🔗 Share this article

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, Leeds rallied after the break after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

And 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 call his players to the touchline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that almost reversed their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and altered the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and moving back up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great chance to win the points," the manager added

"We had the confidence before the game, throughout the game and following the game. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second half"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"