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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead ahead of the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

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

Furthermore with City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I like it? If it's in line with the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Coach's Disappointment

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and even 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 regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

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

Tactical Changes

However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous choice at the half-time that nearly turned around their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and changed the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the field and adjusted a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds United suffered four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke said that "their overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half performance offered enough proof to indicate they are able of arresting their present form and moving up the standings

"To show such a performance should give us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," the manager continued

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, during the fixture and following the game. Or else you can't respond with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a huge turning point in Leeds United's season, but City found a bit of quality. They got away with one this evening"