🔗 Share this article

Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds rallied after the interval following a adjustment of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and issue new instructions during the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight goals this term

Strategic Changes

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to regroup after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second period display offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We had the belief before the match, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds' season, but City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"