MAN CITY 0, TOTTENHAM 4
Manchester City, so used to smashing records for excellence in Pep Guardiola’s reign as manager, are suddenly creating unwanted ones.
City crashed to a fifth straight defeat at home to Tottenham which is their worst run since 2006 under Stuart Pearce, and their biggest-ever loss at the Etihad.
It was the joint worst defeat in Guardiola’s managerial career and his sides have never conceded two or more goals in five successive games.
This was also City’s first home defeat in more than two years since Brentford won at the Etihad in November 22, an amazing run of 52 matches.
Two goals from James Maddison, on his 28th birthday, gave Spurs a 2-0 half-time lead. Ex-City player Pedro Porro added a third early in the second half to give Guardiola’s side an even more mountainous challenge.
Then substitute Brennan Johnson added a fourth in stoppage time to compound City’s misery as they remain five points adrift of leaders Liverpool who will go eight clear if they win tomorrow at bottom-club Southampton.
Guardiola said: “In this moment we are fragile defensively. We started really well as normal, but we could not score and then after that we conceded. After that we conceded some more which is difficult for our emotions right now.
“In eight years, we have never lived this kind of situation. Now we have to live it and break it winning the next games, especially the next one. Now we see things in one way, maybe in a few weeks we see it differently.”
Guardiola, asked if his players are struggling, said: “Of course. We are happy when we win and concerned when we don’t win. It’s normal. There would be a problem if they were not worried or I am not worried.
“We are not used to doing this situation, but life is like this. Sometimes it happens and we have to accept it. It is what it is now, and we will stand up and do it.”
On his new deal and feeling the challenge, Guardiola explained: “The fire is when you win a lot of games, which is better than when you are losing, but we accept this. We have to move forward and break it and try.”
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said: “Proud of the lads. To come to City at their place is a daunting prospect. It challenges every part of you. A bit of everything today. We had to be disciplined and work hard – and play decent football – and we did that. Our football was the difference today. Outstanding performance.
“You have to be [clinical]. They won’t give you too many opportunities. There was a calmness and maturity about how we handled the ball. Against City you can get spooked and don’t want to play against them. But you have to play.
“They test you in every way – mentally, physically, tactically. Our flat spots have been really flat and something we need to eradicate. We’re a much better team this year than last year. We just need to find consistency.”
On the importance of the scoreline, Postecoglou added: “It’s significant, when you understand the context of who we were playing.
“It was an important game for us, the way the boys reacted [to defeat to Ipswich]. It’s easy when you’re under pressure to splinter off but I never got the sense that would happen this week.
“The disappointing thing over the last few games is we’ve fallen well short of the kind of team we want to be. But I’ve no doubt we are on the right track.”
Guardiola made three changes as John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva all returned as Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Matheus Nunes dropped to the bench and Mateo Kovacic missed out through injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesJack Grealish returned to the bench alongside Nathan Ake and Kevin De Bruyne and City looked for a win to mark Guardiola’s two-year contract extension that was signed in midweek.
Tottenham showed three changes from the home defeat by Ipswich in their last outing with Yves Bissouma, Maddison and Ben Davies all returning.
Bissouma replaced Rodrigo Bentancur who started a seven-game ban for using a racist slur, although Tottenham are appealing.
England international Maddison swapped places with Johnson, who dropped to the bench, with Ben Davies partnering Ragu Dragusin in central defence in the absence of injured Argentina international Cristian Romero.
Rodri, out for the season with a cruciate knee injury, made an appearance just before kick-off as he paraded the Ballon D’Or which he recently captured for being world player of the year.
It was a spectacular with a fireworks display featuring his name and a giant banner unfurled covering the whole pitch saying ‘Ballon D’Or’ and ‘Rodri’.
Yves Bissouma was booked after only 15 seconds for a cynical trip on Phil Foden, surely the quickest caution of the campaign.
Spurs were at sixes and sevens defensively from the start and Erling Haaland had a clear chance after four minutes, but saw his shot deflected by Davies for a corner when you would have expected him to score.
Haaland had another clear-cut chance in the 11th minute after being set up by Savinho, but saw his shot saved by the outstretched leg of keeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Spurs, who had been totally outplayed, snatched a 13th minute lead on the break as Dejan Kulusevski’s deep cross from the right was volleyed home at the far post by Maddison from four yards for his fourth goal of the season.
Son Heung-min’s curler from the left of the box was superbly clawed to safety by Ederson.
City were stunned again as Spurs doubled their advantage after 20 minutes when Son’s delightful reverse pass released Maddison who lifted the ball over Ederson from seven yards.
Haaland had another chance but fired over as he could have netted a treble inside the opening quarter of the match.
Spurs would have been three up before the half hour but for a decent stop by Ederson to tip over a shot from Dominic Solanke.
Vicario made a decent stop from Savinho low to his right as City looked for a way back into the game.
City made a change at the break as John Stones was replaced by Nathan Ake.
It failed to arrest the slide as Spurs went 3-0 ahead in the 52nd minute after a break down the left.
Solanke retrieved an over-hit pass on the right and cut the ball back to Porro whose drive flew past Ederson.
And to add insult to injury, Porro is a former City played, though he never made a senior appearance for the club.
Spurs were almost punished for sloppiness at the back as Haaland profited and his excellent shot on the turn clipped the crossbar.
Another Spurs break ended with Kulusevski forcing a fine save from Ederson as the visitors remained a huge offensive threat.
Guardiola made a double change with 16 minutes left as Savinho and Rico Lewis made way for De Bruyne and Grealish.
City continued to carve out chances and Vicario pulled off two huge saves to deny Gundogan and Haaland to preserve their three-goal lead.
It got even worse for City as Spurs hit a fourth in stoppage time.
Substitute Timo Werner broke down the left and crossed to the far post where Johnson slid in to score from almost on the goalline.