🔗 Share this article

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, the visitors fought back after the interval following a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

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

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered enough evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence before the match, during the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"