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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

However, the visitors rallied after the break after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the resumption

And with City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver fresh instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I like it? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

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

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to bend the rules and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is allowed by the rules I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer top-flight goals this season

Tactical Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of adventure especially around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, stated that his team were only capable to regroup after Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"At half-time we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We assembled on the edge of the field and changed a couple of aspects and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds United lost four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in 2022-23, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their overriding feeling is frustration", their second-half performance offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of halting their current run and moving back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the points," the manager continued

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot respond with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a straightforward victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and physically challenged the Manchester City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it might be a huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this afternoon"