🔗 Share this article

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the interval after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the restart

And with City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and issue fresh instructions in the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of halting their current run and moving up the standings

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, during the game and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"