🔗 Share this article

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors rallied following the interval after a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in an attempt 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"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

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

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second-half display offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and climbing up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this performance with the way they have played in this second half"

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

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this evening"