Manchester Metropolis’s defeat towards Tottenham was not fairly “unthinkable” within the Premier League, however a 0-4 scoreline was humiliating when coupled with a ruthless breach of the champions’ fortress.
Metropolis returned to Premier League motion following the worldwide break hoping to finish their dropping streak. As a substitute, they noticed their 52-match dwelling unbeaten run come to a humbling finish by way of a 0-4 defeat towards Tottenham.
Pep Guardiola’s facet have been outclassed by the guests after the primary 10 minutes, with James Maddison netting a fast brace early within the first-half, and each objectives originating with Dejan Kulusevski successful his battle towards Josko Gvardiol.
Alternatively, Maddison capitalised on errors from John Stones and Kyle Walker, sneaking away from the Manchester Metropolis defenders and efficiently firing previous Ederson to provide his facet a two-goal benefit.
Guardiola would have hoped to see his crew battle again within the second half, however not a lot modified. One other masterful counter-attack noticed Kulusevski escape with the ball, beating three gamers to assist create a 3rd, this time for Pedro Porro towards his former membership.
Kevin De Bruyne’s introduction within the second half noticed the champions play with extra zest, nevertheless it was too late. Numerous missed possibilities would come again to hang-out the hosts once more after a counter-attack noticed Timo Werner pierce previous the defence to arrange Brennan Johnson.
This was the second time this season Postecoglou has defeated Guardiola after his facet eradicated Metropolis from the Carabao Cup on the fourth spherical stage, and the loss additionally marked the primary time the Catalan coach had suffered a fifth consecutive defeat in his managerial profession.
Manchester Metropolis now sit eight factors behind league leaders Liverpool following their 2-3 win at Southampton on Sunday afternoon, and are at large threat of seeing that hole widen after they lock horns subsequent weekend at Anfield.
Though Metropolis have at all times discovered Spurs to be tough opponents, a 0-4 defeat tells of the issues the present crew are dealing with, and that they run deeper than merely ongoing harm woes and seasonal jittery runs.
Maybe these issues include a heated debate over what went incorrect on Saturday night, however extra importantly, that they require addressing to find out what will be executed to make it proper.
Listed here are the 5 Issues We Discovered from Manchester Metropolis’s crushing defeat at dwelling on Saturday night, forward of what’s now a mammoth week for the membership!
Pep’s massive miss with the Ilkay Gundogan/Rico Lewis pairing
There isn’t any denying that a lot is being requested of Rico Lewis after being positioned within the defensive midfield. {The teenager} had yet one more recreation he want to overlook as he struggled to deal with the calls for of his offensive and defensive duties.
However to make issues worse, his parking with Ilkay Gundogan appeared much more inefficient than one would have imagined.
Gundogan has regarded removed from his finest since returning to Pep Guardiola’s facet, and was uncharacteristically poor in his passes up entrance and barely moved to assist the defence towards Tottenham.
His efficiency, coupled with that of a extremely nervous Lewis, left obtrusive holes within the hosts’ midfield for the Spurs ahead line to use. It’s unattainable to interchange Rodri’s stalwart presence, but when this Gundogan-Lewis pairing is Pep Guardiola’s answer, can he afford to be affected person?
Josko Gvardiol was outmatched by Dejan Kulusevski
Metropolis have drastically benefitted from Josko Gvardiol’s essential position in assaults, with the Croatian posing a authentic risk along with his ahead runs.
Nonetheless, his defensive prowess was scrutinised when Dejan Kulusevski fully outclassed him when their sides locked horns. Regardless of his finest makes an attempt, Gvardiol discovered his man unplayable, whereas the Spurs winger led all assaults from his crew.
Kulusevski caught Gvardiol off his mark and punished him instantly by organising the primary aim. He pounced on the Metropolis defender’s misplaced cross and shortly created a second aim to fetch an early lead for his crew.
Gvardiol couldn’t get well and had to surrender on his offensive strides to realize a preventing likelihood towards a relentless Kulusevski. Regardless of errors, the Metropolis left-back is anticipated to stay among the many line-ups, and hopefully can be higher ready for comparable exams within the season.
Kyle Walker provides to Manchester Metropolis’s hassle
Walker’s type has suffered considerably since his return from harm, and his first match after the worldwide break was one other outing that raised severe questions on his place within the beginning line-up.
The English right-back was outplayed all through the match on Saturday night, and left his man unattended for the second and the third objectives particularly, while showing to play rooster with Timo Werner for the fourth.
It’s price noting that the Metropolis captain labored onerous to maintain Heung Ming-Son from being a extra important risk to his facet of the pitch. Nonetheless, that solely compelled the Spurs ahead to get artistic along with his passes contained in the field, for which Walker had no reply.
He massively struggled towards his former crew, with one of many worst performances of the night within the Manchester Metropolis shirt.
Phil Foden and the most recent qualms along with his remaining play
It has been an extended wait main as much as see Phil Foden lead the cost from midfield. The Metropolis star is understandably removed from his goal-scoring type, however his decision-making within the remaining third was notably regarding within the match towards Tottenham.
He mixed properly with Josko Gvardiol to place strain on the Spurs defence and, at instances, executed splendid solo runs contained in the field.
Nonetheless, his crosses to Erling Haaland have been both mistimed, or he discovered himself capturing huge. The unlucky end result of almost all of Foden’s strikes toyed with the Manchester Metropolis devoted all night, particularly when the brightly orchestrated runs would hassle the opponents.
It will be an unfair ask of him to show comparable prowess contained in the field as final season, however he didn’t appear to be getting near the identical both.
Erling Haaland battling a double-edged sword
Haaland was on the receiving finish of a number of possibilities created by Metropolis however did not convert. He wasn’t terrible in entrance of the aim, however a goalless match for the Norwegian appears regarding regarding his requirements.
Including to his troubles, the Manchester Metropolis strikers haven’t any assist at current, and never by way of possibilities created, however contemplating how no crew member makes an attempt to shoot.
Thus, the various artistic runs – regardless of the standard – are nonetheless predictable when they may inevitably finish with the ball being crossed to Erling Haaland contained in the field. He’s already marked and efficiently pulling the defenders, which ought to push extra Metropolis gamers to use the area and take a look at the goalkeeper.
As a substitute, Josko Gvardiol was arguably the one different participant in a Sky Blue shirt to take photographs and assist break up the Spurs’ defensive line-up. Most of the time, Metropolis’s assault grew dormant as quickly as Haaland received behind the ball, and the latter’s regarding type didn’t do him any favours.