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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied following the interval after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the resumption

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. 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 spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to leave them 18th in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

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

Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize 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 deployed a pair up top and changed the setup a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds lost four successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our overriding feeling is frustration", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to suggest they are capable of halting their current form and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence prior to the game, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

"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 Manchester City centre-backs"

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