🔗 Share this article

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the half-time break

Second Period Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the break following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. 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 governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you wish to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our footballers in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having notched fewer Premier League goals this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

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

"During the break we were in command. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a excellent chance to earn the results," Farke added

"We possessed the belief before the game, throughout the game and after the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

"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 evening"