🔗 Share this article

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

Leeds made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

And with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Changes

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

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two up top and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds lost four straight successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second period display offered enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their current run and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the points," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the game, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"