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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the resumption

Furthermore with City clearly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this term

Tactical Adjustments

However, Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness especially around substitutions, was nearly vindicated for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly reversed their situation

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's touchline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We really had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds suffered four straight consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "our main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their current run and moving up the table

"Displaying such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great chance to win the points," Farke added

"We possessed the belief before the game, during the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you can't come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City defenders"

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