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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 match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds fought back after the interval following a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is smart. 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 for the authorities to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to take action. Our options are limited"

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer top-flight strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of adventure especially around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup after Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the side of the pitch and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four straight consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present run and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and after the game. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City found a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"