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

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

However, the visitors fought back following the break following a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the two minutes play was halted for

"Everybody understands why he went down," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"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 the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League strikes this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize after Guardiola's touchline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they put two in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds suffered four successive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to indicate they are able of arresting their current run and climbing back up the standings

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

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated 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 performance with the way they have performed in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City defenders"

"It looked like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"