🔗 Share this article

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous choice at the half-time that almost reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United suffered four consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

However, while Farke said that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their current form and moving up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a excellent chance to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief before the match, during the game and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City found a bit of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"