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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

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

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly reversed their fortunes

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his side were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the game. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their current form and moving up the table

"To show such a display should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a great chance to win the points," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, throughout the game and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds can take a lot from this display with the way they have performed in this second period"

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this evening"