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

Leeds made the worst possible start with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, Leeds rallied after the break after a change of tactics and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions during the 120 seconds play was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was clear. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this moment if you want to take action. Our options are limited"

"If we don't teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we just attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is within the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's stoppage-time winner sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having notched less Premier League goals this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been questioned for a absence of adventure particularly around substitutions, was almost rewarded for a bold decision at the half-time that almost turned around their situation

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

"At half-time we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed a pair up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the match. We got together on the edge of the pitch and changed a couple of aspects and it improved from there. That little break was vital to make corrections"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last occasion Leeds lost four straight successive top-flight matches was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half display provided sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of halting their present form and moving back up the standings

"To show such a performance should provide us lots of confidence. If we demonstrate such spirit and unity we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," Farke added

"We had the confidence before the match, throughout the game and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton remarked: "Everyone expected it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been far from easy in this second half"

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

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

"It looked like it could be a huge pivotal moment in Leeds' season, but Manchester City discovered a bit of quality. They got away with one this afternoon"