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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back following the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

And with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that almost reversed their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are able of arresting their present form and climbing back up the table

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the manner they have performed in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"