🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue new instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a bold choice at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put two up top and altered the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United lost four successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their present form and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the game and after the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the manner they have played in this second period"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"