Three games between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in 11 days. One game down and Tottenham took a 1-0 lead to the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of this Champions League quarter-final. The night saw the City’s quadruple chances snatched from right underneath them and Tottenham Hotspur show true bottle to progress to the last four on a simply incredible night in Manchester.
Tottenham Hotspur Show Bottle on Night of High Drama
Early Stages
Son Heung-Min scored the only goal in a tight first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In North London, Pep Guardiola’s team had been far from free-flowing and, on occasions, cynical.
Having not conceded an away goal in the first game, Tottenham knew that any goal they scored would be vital if they were to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
One thing that both Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola would have told their sides before kick off is do not concede early. Neither side listened to their managers. After just four minutes, Raheem Sterling received the ball on the left and instead of showing him wide, Kieran Trippier allowed him to drift inside and Sterling, as he has so many times this season, curled an imperious shot into the far corner.
Mauricio Pochettino was incandescent with rage when Sterling got his second goal. If Pochettino was a volcano on the verge of an eruption, he was a full flowing lava of hot fury with his defenders. Tottenham must sort out their defensive lapses. Considering the talent in the back line it is worrying on just how many occasions this season they have failed to deal with basic situations.
Son Heung-Min Thrives on Pressure
Son thrives on pressure and never more so than when Harry Kane is missing. The yellow card he picked up in the second half means he will miss the first leg of the semi-final tie against Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. His absence could be a more profound issue than that of missing Kane. When Son plays he adds pace and energy and in many ways, Tottenham are a more rapid team when he is given a freer role. Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente will have their work cut out to fill the gaping holes left by Kane and Son.
Kevin De Bruyne Runs Tottenham Midfield Ragged
If Pochettino had told his charges to be firm at half time, Guardiola had told his men to do one thing and one thing only – attack.
Kevin De Bruyne was running the Spurs midfield ragged. The loss of Moussa Sissoko to injury is another headache for Pochettino and he will hope he recovers quickly, as without him they looked unbalanced in midfield and lacking pace. Victor Wanyama tired, understandably, after not having much match time. It was in midfield where Spurs couldn’t break up the play and there were few options on the bench to remedy this.
VAR Used Twice To Break Hearts and Create a Truly Blue Moon
In the first leg, VAR gave Manchester City a penalty for a handball against Danny Rose. VAR was then strangely not used when Fernandinho clearly elbowed Harry Kane in the back of the head when the officials failed to spot it. At the Etihad, VAR broke City hearts. Twice.
VAR is far from a polished system. Errors are still being made and there are question marks around whether those using the system know how to use it. At the Etihad, it was used both times to produce the correct decisions. For Tottenham, they were decisions that caused delight. For Manchester City, they caused heartbreak.
Tottenham Hotspur Show True Bottle
Yes, Tottenham lost on the night. No team has beaten Manchester City at home in 2019. That record survives. Spurs have been accused of being ‘bottlers.’ At the Etihad they showed that they are anything but that. A squad at its barest bones; a bench that had little to change the game should it be needed. In some ways, it was ironic that Llorente again had a helping ‘hand’ in getting Tottenham through another Champions League tie. When called upon he has shown his bottle.
The reaction of the Tottenham players and manager as they celebrated with their fans at the end of the game was telling. As Manchester City players sat crestfallen, as so often the Spurs players have after losing big games, the connection between fans and players and manager was unerring. Pochettino roared at the fans. He embraced every single player. This was and is, a big moment for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
The Managers
Pep Guardiola felt that the exit from the Champions League was cruel and speaking post-match said:
“We scored a goal and VAR made the rest. [Was it the right decision? We’re talking inches here] The inches was the handball. That was inches. Our goal was offside, and that’s cruel. It is what it is. Llorente’s goal was handball. Maybe the referee didn’t see the right image; from another angle it’s handball.
“The first half was not normal. In the second half, we created a lot of chances. They are a strong team and unfortunately, we are not in the next stage. [The quadruple’s gone, Pep?] Yeah, it’s gone.” From the Guardian
Mauricio Pochettino could not contain his delight at his side’s victory on away goals:
“Unbelievable. I am so happy, so proud of my players – they are heroes – and so happy for our fans. And now we have to come here again on Saturday! That is why we love football – anything can happen. We showed great personality; to score three goals here is not easy. I would like to congratulate Manchester City, who were fantastic, but I think our effort was massive too.”
Conclusions?
For the neutral fan, this was sensational entertainment. For the fans of both Tottenham and Manchester City, it was horrible for the most part. City have lost the quadruple but are still on course for another successful season. For Tottenham Hotspur, they will now face Ajax in the semi-final.
With Ajax playing mouthwatering football and having brushed both Real Madrid and Juventus aside to get to the semi’s, Spurs v Ajax has the making of another incredible match up. Whether it can reach this game’s heights remains to be seen.
Manchester City and Tottenham now have two days rest before Manchester City are back in action at lunchtime at the Etihad on Saturday, whilst Tottenham are also in action at lunchtime on Saturday… at the Etihad.
For now, and in the Champions League, it is Spurs who go marching on.
Main Photo
