adminLeeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of “faking” an injury to create an opportunity for Pep Guardiola to deliver an on-field team talk during a crucial moment of their Premier League clash. Donnarumma went down in the second half just after Leeds pulled the score back to 2–1 and had the momentum. City later restored their advantage, ultimately winning 3–2 thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Phil Foden at the Etihad on Saturday.
Farke calls for new rules after contentious stoppage
Despite being disappointed by the result, Farke was particularly frustrated by one moment in the game. Shortly before the hour mark, Donnarumma signaled he needed treatment. During the pause, Guardiola gathered the rest of the City outfield players for a tactical discussion after Leeds had changed their formation.
Leeds did manage to equalise later, but City sealed the win, and Farke was left unhappy with what he felt was an abuse of the rules. Although he avoided directly criticising Guardiola, the German coach said the sport needs clearer regulations to prevent situations like this from happening.
Man City edge out resurgent Leeds
City looked comfortable at halftime with a 2–0 lead courtesy of goals from Foden and Josko Gvardiol, but the second half told a different story. Leeds responded through Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, who scored after following up his own saved penalty. The comeback threatened to cause an upset, but Foden’s late winner calmed City nerves and lifted them to second place in the league.
After the game, Guardiola admitted his team struggled after Leeds’ tactical changes. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said:
“After Daniel changed shape, long balls to Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha running behind made it a battle. We had chances, and in the end we finally found the goal.”
Farke, however, didn’t shy away from his view of Donnarumma’s injury break:
“Everyone knows why he went down. It’s obvious,” he said. “It’s within the rules — it’s smart — but whether it’s fair play is another question. I asked the fourth official if he could intervene, but he said their hands were tied. If players are taught to bend the rules like this, faking an injury just to get a team talk in, I don’t like it, but if the rules allow it, I can’t complain.”
Farke suggested that officials should compensate for such moments by favouring the away team in 50/50 calls or by adding less stoppage time. He also pointed out why goalkeepers are the ones who usually go down: an outfield player would have to leave the pitch afterwards. Still, he made clear he was not criticising Guardiola personally:
“Pep is the best manager in the world. There’s not one per cent criticism of him. We have a great relationship. Everyone knows what happened; it’s now for the authorities to find a solution.”
Leeds show spirit despite fourth straight defeat
The loss marked Leeds’ fourth consecutive defeat, increasing pressure on Farke. Yet the resilience shown in their second-half comeback offered encouragement to supporters.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Farke said:
“We didn’t come here for compliments — we came here for points. The lads reacted brilliantly after the worst possible start and fully deserved the equaliser. Both teams could have won it. It’s heartbreaking because we deserved something, but my players should be proud and take confidence from this performance.”
Difficult fixtures ahead for Leeds
Still sitting 18th in the Premier League, Leeds now face a demanding run of matches. They host third-placed Chelsea on Wednesday, followed by a home clash with a struggling Liverpool side next weekend. Trips to Brentford and then a home meeting with an in-form Crystal Palace make up a tough schedule leading into the Christmas period.
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