🔗 Share this article

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

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

Furthermore with Manchester City clearly struggling to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League goals this term

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two up top and changed the setup a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four successive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Farke stated that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display offered enough proof to suggest they are able of halting their present run and climbing up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the points," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, throughout the fixture and following the game. Otherwise you can't respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

"Leeds United can take a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second half"

"Following that were Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned 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 massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but City found a bit of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"