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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Revival Thwarted

However, the visitors fought back after the interval after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense 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 Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to place them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolves having notched less top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their fortunes

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

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put two in attack and changed the formation a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to gain control of the match. We assembled on the side of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

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

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough evidence to indicate they are able of arresting their current run and climbing up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we show such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the points," Farke added

"We possessed the confidence before the match, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

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

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

"Then came 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 City centre-backs"

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