🔗 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 worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied following the break following a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new directions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our players in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they put two in attack and altered the setup a little bit," said Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of arresting their current form and climbing up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the results," the manager added

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"