🔗 Share this article

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the interval following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. 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 crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is frustration", their second period display provided enough evidence to indicate they are able of halting their present run and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the way 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 ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"