🔗 Share this article

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

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

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

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

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around changes, was nearly vindicated for a bold decision at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his side were only capable to reorganize after Guardiola's sideline conference 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 altered the setup a bit," said Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

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

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding emotion is disappointment", their second period performance provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their present form and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the belief before the game, during the fixture and after the game. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

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

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