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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

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

Furthermore with City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and deliver fresh directions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? 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 find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored less top-flight goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our overriding emotion is disappointment", their second-half display offered enough evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their current run and moving up the standings

"To show such a display should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a great chance to earn the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

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

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