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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" during their top-flight match at the Etihad

Leeds made the poorest beginning with Phil Foden scoring within the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead before the half-time break

Second-Half Comeback Thwarted

Nevertheless, the visitors fought back after the break after a adjustment of strategy and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away after the restart

Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to deal with the changes moments before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to get attention, enabling manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the sideline and issue fresh directions during the two minutes play was stopped for

"Everybody understands why he collapsed," Farke stated

"This isn't the elephant in the room. Why he went down it was clear. It is within the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's in line with the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will reserve to myself. It is for the governing bodies to find a resolution"

Coach's Disappointment

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

"Unless we teach our footballers in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in an attempt to do an additional team talk, it is not what I approve of myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I can't complain"

Late Winner

Phil Foden's injury-time decisive goal sent Leeds to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League fixtures to place them eighteenth in the Premier League, with only bottom club Wolverhampton having notched less Premier League strikes this season

Strategic Adjustments

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

Talking to television pundits, Phil Foden, stated that his side were only able to reorganize following Pep Guardiola's touchline meeting with his players

"During the break we were in command. Second half they emerged, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they deployed two in attack and changed the setup a bit," commented Foden

"We genuinely struggled to gain control of the game. We got together on the edge of the field and changed a few things and it improved from there. That little break was crucial to make corrections"

Encouraging Aspects for Leeds

The last time Leeds United suffered four consecutive Premier League games was in 2022-23, when their season concluded with relegation

However, while Daniel Farke stated that "our main emotion is disappointment", their second-half display offered enough proof to suggest they are capable of arresting their present run and climbing back up the table

"Displaying such a display should provide us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great opportunity to earn the results," Farke added

"We possessed the belief prior to the game, throughout the fixture and following the encounter. Or else you cannot come back with a showing like that. We have strong unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room"

Pundit Analysis

Commenting on radio analysis, former Scottish club forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody expected it to be a comfortable win for Manchester City, but it has been anything but easy in this second half"

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

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

"It appeared like it could be a massive pivotal moment in Leeds United's season, but Manchester City discovered a measure of brilliance. They escaped with one this evening"