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Leeds manager Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

The visitors made the worst possible start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

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

And with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get treatment, enabling boss Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and issue new instructions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody knows why he went down," Farke commented

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he fell it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the rules. It is smart. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Frustration

"I ask the fourth official at this point if you wish to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in the game what to do in terms of fair play and fair play and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Deciding Goal

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal condemned Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven top-flight fixtures to leave them 18th in the Premier League, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having notched fewer top-flight strikes this term

Tactical Changes

Nonetheless, Daniel Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness especially around changes, was almost rewarded for a courageous choice at the interval that nearly turned around their situation

Speaking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to regroup following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in control. Second half they emerged, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really had difficulty to gain control of the game. 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 Aspects for Leeds United

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

However, while Farke said that "their overriding emotion is frustration", their second-half performance offered sufficient evidence to indicate they are capable of arresting their present run and climbing up the standings

"Displaying such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such determination and unity we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," Farke added

"We had the confidence prior to the match, during the game and following the encounter. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have great togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Expert Opinion

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

"Leeds United can derive a lot from this performance with the way they have performed in this second period"

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often questioned 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 huge turning point in Leeds' campaign, but City found a bit of brilliance. They got away with one this afternoon"