🔗 Share this article

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

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the break following a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions in the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this point if you wish to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and fair play and whatever and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half performance provided sufficient proof to indicate they are able of halting their current form and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great chance to earn the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the match, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City discovered a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"