🔗 Share this article Man City Accused of Gamesmanship in Narrow Victory Over Leeds United - Farke Leeds manager Daniel Farke believed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma simulated an knock during the second period of their Premier League clash Leeds United manager Daniel Farke claimed Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "exploit the regulations" in their top-flight fixture at the Etihad The visitors made the poorest start with Phil Foden finding the net inside the opening 60 seconds, before Josko Gvardiol doubled the hosts' lead ahead of the interval Second-Half Comeback Denied However, the visitors fought back following the interval following a adjustment of tactics and formation, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting straight away following the restart Furthermore with Manchester City visibly having difficulty to cope with the changes just before Lukas Nmecha equalized, City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down to receive treatment, allowing manager Pep Guardiola to summon his players to the touchline and deliver new instructions in the 120 seconds the game was halted for "Everyone 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 bounds of the rules. It is clever. If I approve? If it's within the sense of sportsmanship? If it ought to be like this I will keep to myself. It is for the authorities to find a resolution" Coach's Disappointment "I ask the fourth official at this moment if you wish to take action. Our options are limited" "Unless we educate our players in the game what to do in regards of sportsmanship and sportsmanship and everything and if we simply attempt to exploit regulations and actually do a simulated knock in order to do an extra team meeting, it is not what I like myself. But if it is allowed by the regulations I have no grounds for complaint" Stoppage-Time Winner Foden's injury-time winner condemned Leeds United to a sixth consecutive defeat in seven top-flight matches to place them eighteenth in the division, with only last-placed Wolverhampton having scored less Premier League goals this term Strategic Adjustments However, Farke, who has been questioned for a lack of boldness particularly around changes, was nearly vindicated for a courageous decision at the half-time that nearly reversed their fortunes Speaking to television pundits, Foden, said that his team were only capable to reorganize after Pep Guardiola's sideline meeting with his squad "During the break we were in control. Second half they came out, pressed us a lot more aggressively, they put a pair up top and altered the formation a bit," commented Foden "We genuinely had difficulty to gain control 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 vital to get things right" Encouraging Signs for Leeds The most recent occasion Leeds lost four successive Premier League games was in the 2022-23 season, when their campaign ended with demotion Nevertheless, while Farke said that "their main emotion is frustration", their second-half display offered sufficient evidence to suggest they are able of arresting their present form and climbing up the table "To show such a performance should provide us plenty of confidence. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a excellent chance to win the points," Farke added "We possessed the confidence prior to the match, throughout the game and after the encounter. Or else you can't respond with a showing like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit in the dressing room" Expert Opinion Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex- Celtic forward Chris Sutton remarked: "Everybody anticipated it to be a comfortable victory for City, but it has been anything but comfortable in this second half" "Leeds United can derive a lot from this display with the manner they have performed in this second half" "Then came Daniel Farke's changes, who is often 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 escaped with one this afternoon"