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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke criticised what he implied was a tactical pause from Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during Sunday’s dramatic 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, suggesting the Italian stopper went down with a “fake injury” that enabled Pep Guardiola to deliver an unscheduled team talk.
City had dominated the early stages, racing ahead inside the opening minute through Phil Foden before Josko Gvardiol added a second. But the momentum swung after the interval as substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin halved the deficit almost immediately.
With Leeds pressing for an equaliser, Donnarumma signalled for medical assistance while City were still 2-1 ahead. Guardiola took the opportunity to bring his players together for instructions, responding to Leeds’ altered shape.
Although the impromptu huddle did not prevent Leeds from levelling, Gvardiol conceded a penalty, Lukas Nmecha converted the rebound after Donnarumma’s initial save, Foden’s second goal in stoppage time secured all three points for the hosts.
Post-match, Farke questioned whether the goalkeeper’s stoppage was in the spirit of the game.
"It is within the rules," he said. "It is smart. If I like it, if it is in the sense of fair play, if it should be like this, I keep it to myself and I leave it to the authorities to find solutions for it. It is within the rules."
"I asked the fourth official at this point if you want to do something and he said: 'No, our hands are tied, we can't do anything.'""
"If we don't educate our players in football, what to do in terms of fair play, sportsmanship, if you just try to bend the rules to your advantage and you can do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is nothing I personally like but if it is within the rules I can't complain about it."
Guardiola said he believed Donnarumma’s issue was legitimate, revealing he had Thomas Trafford warming up in case the goalkeeper needed replacing.
"I didn't speak with Gigio [Donnarumma]," Guardiola said. "When it happened I looked back to the dugout and said 'James, warm up'. I don't know. Next press conference you can ask me and I will ask Gigio."
"Football is emotions. We conceded the second and after we made a step up. We reacted really well. We had to put the ball quickly in the box. With the full-backs, wingers, it doesn't matter and in the end it's the quality of Phil. When he arrives in these positions he can shoot or pass it in."
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / SamG, Unsplash / Jonny Gios
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