Daniel Farke addresses Chelsea penalty and Leeds United 12-minute collapse after Carabao Cup exit

Daniel Farke believes his Leeds United side switched off in key moments to allow a Chelsea comeback after a penalty ‘out of nothing’.

Leeds were well worth their one-goal half-time lead through Tarik Muharemovic and despite four Chelsea changes, went 2-0 up minutes after half-time. Ethan Ampadu’s cross was smartly flicked on by Lukas Nmecha and finished by the Brenden Aaronson to get a real foothold in the game.

But Chelsea then scored four without reply in the space of just 12 minutes, Cole Palmer grabbing a brace before Pedro Neto and Danny Welbeck completed the turnaround. Leeds rallied through substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin but conceded twice more to lose 6-3.

Palmer’s first goal came from 12 yards, with referee Jarred Gillett pointing to the spot after a coming together between Daniel James and Neto. Farke hadn’t watched the incident back but pointed to the lack of Chelsea protests, both on the pitch and in the stands.

Addressing the penalty decision, Farke said: “I have not too much to moan about today with my players because I think for 60 minutes we were in full control and played a really good away game. Overall, I think it was a very commanding performance, fully deserved to be in the lead

“Of course you're then disappointed with conceding six goals. I think the key message is that one small situation in football can change the world and the momentum of the game. In the [penalty] situation, I didn't realise anything more or less. The referee had the ide to give a penalty.

“I can't really judge it because I didn't have the chance right now to watch the scene back. It was more or less like a situation where no one in the stadium, not one Chelsea player, not one guy on the stands was asking for a penalty, and he gave out of nothing a penalty.”

Leeds then conceded a second from Palmer two minutes later and another from penalty-winner Neto after five more minutes. That game Farke’s side a mountain to climb yet more sloppy defending saw Welbeck and Barco on target.

“Quality players scored the first goal, and the whole body language of the Chelsea players was different,” he added. “Another detail after a cheap throw-in situation, we underestimate the situation. We didn't follow the movement of Palmer, and it's a quality play, he puts the ball into the corner.

“2-2 more or less out of nothing. This little situation to give the penalty and not to follow the movement after the throw-in - important topic in the preparation of the game - changed more or less the whole momentum.

“I think we could have done better then afterwards in a few situations, there is no doubt about this. Quality players like them also use this but it also felt a bit like each strike on goal was a goal. Even when I think about the sixth goal, the ball would have come down in Fulham anyhow, but somehow Welbeck was in the way and put the ball in.

“I like the mentality of my players. Even after four two down, we tried to turn the game again. We scored the third goal. We're pushing for it. Noah Okafor had, I think, a penalty incident. Anton Stach had a really good chance. Mentality was never in doubt.

“I was happy with this, but we didn't pay enough focus and concentration on the small situations. So again, I can't really judge the first situation.”