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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their Premier League match at the Etihad

The visitors made the worst possible beginning with Phil Foden finding the net inside the first minute, prior to Josko Gvardiol doubled the home side's advantage before the interval

Second-Half Revival Denied

However, Leeds fought back after the break following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting immediately after the restart

Furthermore with City visibly having difficulty to deal with the adjustments moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collapsed to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and deliver fresh instructions in the two minutes the game was stopped for

"Everyone understands why he went down," Farke commented

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. It is smart. If I approve? If it's within the spirit of fair play? If it ought to be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the authorities to determine a resolution"

Manager's Frustration

"I ask the assistant referee at this moment if you wish to do something. Our options are limited"

"If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to exploit regulations and even do a simulated knock in an attempt to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I approve of personally. But if it is within the regulations I have no grounds for complaint"

Late Deciding Goal

Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds United to a sixth loss in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolves having scored fewer Premier League strikes this season

Tactical Adjustments

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

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Foden, said that his side were only capable to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two up top and altered the setup a little bit," commented Phil Foden

"We really struggled to get hold of the match. We assembled on the edge of the pitch and changed a few things and it improved from there. That brief pause was crucial to make corrections"

Positive Aspects for Leeds United

The most recent occasion Leeds suffered four straight successive top-flight games was in 2022-23, when their season ended with relegation

Nevertheless, while Farke said that "our main feeling is disappointment", their second-half display provided enough proof to indicate they are able of halting their present run and moving up the standings

"To show such a performance should give us plenty of belief. If we show such determination and togetherness we have a excellent opportunity to win the points," the manager added

"We possessed the confidence before the game, during the fixture and after the encounter. Otherwise you can't respond with a showing like that. We have strong togetherness and fighting spirit in the locker room"

Pundit Analysis

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

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

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

"It looked like it might be a massive turning point in Leeds' campaign, but Manchester City discovered a measure of quality. They escaped with one this afternoon"