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

Leeds made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net within the first minute, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage ahead of the interval

Second Period Revival Thwarted

Nevertheless, Leeds rallied after the interval following a change of strategy and setup, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring immediately following the restart

And with Manchester City clearly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get treatment, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to call his team to the sideline and deliver fresh directions in the 120 seconds the game was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke commented

"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 within the spirit of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to determine a solution"

Coach's Frustration

"I questioned the fourth official at this moment if you want to do something. Our options are limited"

"Unless we educate our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to bend the rules and actually do a fake injury in an attempt to do an extra team talk, it is not what I like myself. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Stoppage-Time Winner

Phil Foden's stoppage-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth consecutive loss in seven top-flight fixtures to place them eighteenth in the division, with only bottom club Wolves having scored less top-flight goals this season

Strategic Adjustments

Nonetheless, Farke, who has been criticised for a absence of boldness particularly around substitutions, was almost vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that almost reversed their fortunes

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Phil Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize following Guardiola's sideline conference with his players

"During the break we were in command. After halftime they came out, pressed us a lot higher, they deployed two up top and altered the formation a little bit," said Phil Foden

"We genuinely had difficulty to get hold of the game. We got together on the side of the field and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to get things right"

Positive Signs for Leeds

The last time Leeds lost four straight consecutive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

Nevertheless, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is frustration", their second period performance offered sufficient proof to indicate they are able of halting their current form and climbing back up the standings

"To show such a display should give us plenty of confidence. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to earn the results," the manager continued

"We had the belief prior to the match, throughout the game and following the game. Otherwise you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and determination in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Scottish club attacker Chris Sutton said: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable victory for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

"Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is frequently questioned for not being as responsive as he should be. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced and roughed up the City centre-backs"

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