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Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad

Leeds got off to the poorest start with Phil Foden scoring inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the break following a adjustment of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart

And with Manchester City visibly struggling to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and issue new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke commented

"This isn't the obvious issue. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a solution"

Manager's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you want to take action. Our hands are tied"

"Unless we educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply try to exploit regulations and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the rules I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time winner sent Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored fewer Premier League goals this season

Tactical Changes

However, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was nearly rewarded for a bold decision at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

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

"During the break we were in control. After halftime they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put two up top and changed the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a few things and it got better from there. That little break was vital to get things right"

Encouraging Signs for Leeds United

The last occasion Leeds United lost four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their season concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke stated that "their main feeling is frustration", their second-half performance provided sufficient evidence to suggest they are capable of arresting their current form and climbing back up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we demonstrate such determination and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the confidence prior to the game, during the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you cannot respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and determination in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City defenders"

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