🔗 Share this article

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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' lead before the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

However, Leeds fought back after the interval following a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring straight away following the resumption

And with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within 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 resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our players in the game what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League strikes this term

Strategic Changes

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

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, said that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline 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," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with demotion

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main feeling is frustration", their second period display offered enough proof to suggest they are able of arresting their present run and moving up the standings

"Displaying such a display should provide us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence before the match, during the game and after the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the Manchester City defenders"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"