Manchester Metropolis’s 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur was extra than simply three factors. It was a reminder of their high quality and an important step in direction of Champions League qualification.
For 45 minutes, they appeared like their outdated selves — sharp, fluid, and ruthless. Erling Haaland’s return supplied the innovative, and his twentieth league aim of the season was the reward for Metropolis’s dominance.
Pep Guardiola’s facet tore by way of Spurs within the first half. Jeremy Doku was electrical, Savinho a continuing risk, and Haaland appeared as if he had by no means been away. His aim got here from a slick transfer, began by Omar Marmoush and completed with an instinctive strike from shut vary.
Metropolis ought to have been out of sight earlier than the break. Doku, Savinho, and Haaland all had probabilities, whereas Tottenham struggled to maintain possession. The house crowd voiced their frustration at half-time, however their crew responded.
Ange Postecoglou’s second-half modifications made an influence. Spurs pressed with extra depth, and Metropolis wobbled beneath the strain. Son Heung-min and Pape Sarr each had late probabilities, the latter lacking a golden alternative within the dying moments.
Haaland thought he had sealed the win in stoppage time, just for VAR to intervene. His aim was dominated out for handball, a call Guardiola felt was incorrect. “It was too fast,” he mentioned. “However this stuff occur. We have now to just accept it and transfer ahead.”
Regardless of Spurs’ late surge, Metropolis held agency. Ederson was excellent, producing key saves to disclaim Son and Sarr. Ruben Dias and Khusanov had been composed on the again, whereas Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol labored tirelessly.
. “For Champions League qualification, it was an extremely good consequence,” he mentioned. “We have now a younger crew. The three up entrance are the longer term. With Rodri again and the precise additions, we are going to construct one thing particular.”
Metropolis’s inconsistency this season has been their greatest weak spot. They’ve dropped factors from profitable positions too usually, and Guardiola is aware of they should be extra ruthless. “By no means ever are you able to cease taking part in,” he mentioned. “1-0 ought to have been 2-0 or 3-0. We’ve discovered the exhausting method this season.”
The win lifted Metropolis again into the highest 4, however they can not afford extra slip-ups. The combat for a Champions League spot is tight, and with harder challenges forward, they need to rediscover their killer intuition. For now, although, this was a vital step ahead.