🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage before the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

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

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League goals this term

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

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

However, while Farke said that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period display provided sufficient proof to suggest they are able of halting their current run and moving up the standings

"To show such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, during the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds United 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 criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"