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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 start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, Leeds rallied after the interval after a change of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

And with City visibly struggling to cope with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive attention, allowing boss Pep Guardiola to summon his team to the sideline and issue fresh instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the regulations. It is smart. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution"

Manager's Disappointment

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

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team meeting, it is not what I like personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven Premier League matches to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight strikes this term

Strategic Adjustments

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a lack of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the interval that almost turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize following Guardiola's touchline 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 setup a bit," said Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the match. We got together on the edge of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That brief pause was vital to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds United

The most recent time Leeds suffered four consecutive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period performance provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of halting their present form and moving back up the table

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the results," Farke continued

"We had the confidence before the game, during the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you can't come back with a performance like that. We have great togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Expert Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said: "Everyone anticipated it to be a straightforward win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second period"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently criticised for not being as proactive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and roughed up the City centre-backs"

"It appeared like it could be a massive turning point in Leeds' season, but City discovered a measure of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"