🔗 Share this article

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight fixture at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the interval following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue new instructions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having scored fewer top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Changes

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

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

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and altered the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

"Then came 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 Manchester City centre-backs"

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