Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham: Home side’s early season statement dismissed after a Thomas Frank masterclass
Manchester City came into this game supposedly on the back of a statement win against Wolves last weekend. But right from the opening stages it was difficult to see any of the accuracy, creativity and brilliance that underlined that performance at Molineaux.
On the contrary, Pep Guardiola’s side lacked inspiration in a performance that was largely characterised by mishit passes, scoffed chances and poor decision-making.
To be fair, Spurs weren’t much better in the opening stages either, but Thomas Frank’s completely transformed side slowly grew into the game. Tottenham played a confident high press and tried to suffocate their opponents, unsettle them and force them to make mistakes. Frequently, they did.
“Before our goal, without them dominating us, they were more on top in the game,” said Frank. “But we stayed in it. We were solid, top mentality. After the 1-0 goal, we were more or less the better side.”
Spurs’ first goal came just after the half hour when Richarlison raced down City’s left, taking advantage of a delay in implementing the offside trap. He then whipped a low cross in for Brennan Johnson to finish at the back post. The goal survived the offside check.
Against Wolves, City had played the offside trap brilliantly but here they got caught. Afterwards, the home side became unsteady, passes were more tentative, decisions were made with less conviction.
Trafford burst out of goal in a dubious attempt to deny Mohammed Kudus a clear chance at the edge of the area. The goalkeeper got enough on it and too little on Kudus to draw the referee’s ire, but it was an omen.
Just a few minutes afterwards Trafford passed short in the box to the under-pressure Nico Gonzalez, who loses the ball to Pape Matar Sarr. Richarlison tries to take advantage but is pressured by Trafford. Palhinha ultimately runs up to the loose ball and puts Spurs 2-0 up.
A few more dubious decisions would come from Trafford, no doubt making Guardiola rue his decision to trust the 22-year-old ahead of Ederson. At one point he completely mistimed an effort to charge out and prevent Sarr from running onto an overhead pass, but luckily for him the Senegal international was unable to get his head on it.
City never truly looked like they could get back in it, even after Guardiola brought on Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, the squad’s best players whom he had curiously left on the bench. So solid were Spurs. Kudus charged and imperiously dispossessed Silva. Micky van de Ven confidently slid in to deny Phil Foden, after Jeremy Doku had dribbled dangerously into the box.
In the end it was City who almost fell even further, but Trafford made a crucial double save to deny Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert.
