🔗 Share this article

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the hosts' advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied after the break after a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with City visibly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue fresh instructions during the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United 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 Premier League goals this term

Tactical Changes

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

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"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 little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last time Leeds suffered four straight consecutive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided sufficient proof to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great chance to earn the results," Farke continued

"We possessed the confidence before the match, throughout the fixture and following the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the manner they have played in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City defenders"

"It appeared like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"