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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "exploit the regulations" during their Premier League fixture at the Etihad

The visitors got off to the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's lead before the interval

Second Period Comeback Denied

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

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue new directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is smart. 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 find a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this point if you wish to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

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

Tactical Changes

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

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they came out, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and changed the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds United suffered four straight successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke said that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second period performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their present run and moving back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and unity we have a excellent chance to win the results," the manager added

"We had the confidence before the game, throughout the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

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