🔗 Share this article

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, Leeds rallied following the interval after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? 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 solution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"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 simply try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched fewer Premier League goals this season

Tactical Changes

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

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup following Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds

The last time Leeds lost four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main feeling is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their current run and moving up the table

"Displaying such a performance 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, during the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

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

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