🔗 Share this article

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the break following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a bold decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only capable to regroup following Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but 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 frequently questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They escaped with one this evening"