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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible beginning 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

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the interval following a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. 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 authorities to determine a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United lost four straight successive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with demotion

However, while Farke said that "our main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to indicate they are able of arresting their current run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the points," Farke added

"We had the belief before the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a measure of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"