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Leeds manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of simulating a knock to "bend the rules" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net within the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break after a change of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately following the resumption

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to cope with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to call his players to the sideline and issue new instructions during the 120 seconds the game was halted for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the obvious issue. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I like it? If it's in line with the sense of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to bend the rules and even do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

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

Tactical Changes

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

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, stated that his team were only able to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline conference with his squad

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds United suffered four straight consecutive Premier League matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "their main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their present run and moving back up the table

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and unity we have a great opportunity to earn the results," Farke continued

"We had the confidence prior to the match, during the fixture and following the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Opinion

Speaking on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable win for City, but it has been far from comfortable in this second period"

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

"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 City centre-backs"

"It looked like it might be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this evening"