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Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has accused City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" in their top-flight match at Etihad Stadium

Leeds got off to the poorest beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, prior to Josko Gvardiol extended the home side's lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Denied

However, the visitors rallied following the break following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the resumption

And with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments just before Lukas Nmecha levelled, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to receive attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the touchline and issue fresh instructions during the 120 seconds play was halted for

"Everyone knows why he collapsed," Farke stated

"It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was obvious. It is within the bounds of the regulations. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our players in football what to do in terms of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in order to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Stoppage-Time Winner

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

Strategic Changes

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness especially around changes, was nearly rewarded for a bold choice at the half-time that nearly reversed their situation

Talking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"At half-time we were in command. After halftime they came out, harried us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair in attack and changed the formation a bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the side of the field and adjusted a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The most recent time Leeds lost four successive top-flight matches was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with relegation

However, while Farke said that "our overriding feeling is disappointment", their second-half display offered sufficient proof to suggest they are able of arresting their current form and moving back up the table

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

"We possessed the confidence prior to the match, during the fixture and after the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a performance like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Expert Opinion

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

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

"Following that were Daniel Farke's adjustments, who is often criticised for not being as proactive as he ought to be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and physically challenged the City centre-backs"

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