🔗 Share this article

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the break following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

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

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't teach our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that almost reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds suffered four successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding emotion is frustration", their second period performance provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We had the belief prior to the game, throughout the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"