FODEN HAS LIFT-OFF
Rising star is off the mark as Pep’s front-runners get the better of Spurs to ease European pain
FOR one side, an unprecedented Treble is on; for another, qualification for next season’s Champions League looks more precarious. Really it ought to have felt like a very good week for Manchester City and a troublesome one for Tottenham.
But, of course, the respective euphoria and despair of Wednesday night’s epic Champions League encounter between these clubs overshadowed everything at the Etihad, even the unseasonal and glorious Mancunian sunshine. The atmosphere could never quite be one of unbridled joy, despite City’s victory. A disappointment which had cut so deep was not about to heal so fast.
Still, strip away that emotion and you find yourself contemplating that City are on the verge of something remarkable. Five wins will secure a domestic treble, the biggest obstacle to that being a Manchester derby on Wednesday night.
Pep Guardiola for one was in fulsome mood, perhaps consciously trying to reframe the narrative of the season, describing what his team has achieved so far as the one of the most remarkable achievements of his career.
‘I don’t deny how good it was in Barcelona or even in Bayern Munich,’ he said.
‘And I have to live with [the fact that], in my profession, if we didn’t win the four titles, especially the Champions League, it is a big fail in my career. I have to accept it.
‘But honestly, in this league, when everyone can lose to everyone, where we have to play with physicality, especially coming after the 100 points [last season] and competing against the best Liverpool ever — one of the best sides I ever played — just being still there, with the problems we have had, that is remarkable. That is what I appreciate most from my players.
‘I want to win it but I will not judge my team if we cannot do it. I will give a lot of credit to Liverpool. Because of one inch offside or a handball not given, I will not change my opinion of my team.
You can do it. I know how it works. But knowing how tough it was after what happened on Wednesday… when you have the pressure, you have to show it. Of course, we didn’t make the best performance but what they have done is massive.’
Guardiola’s point was that City can never afford any slip whereas Tottenham could lose here and still qualify for the Champions League. And 10 straight Premier League victories since losing to Newcastle in January has made this the ultimate staring contest with Jurgen Klopp, each daring the other to blink first.
Phil Foden’s fifth-minute goal was just about enough here even if City were not at their scintillating best. Tottenham might have been worth a draw. Son Heung-Min and Aymeric Laporte renewed their personal duel, honours more or less even on this occasion.
Foden more than justified a Premier League start in such a major game, scoring his first top-flight goal and adding energy and guile; and Ederson confirmed his enormous value to City.
There were fascinating duels all over, not least between the two coaches, Mauricio Pochettino making five changes and opting for a back three, while Guardiola made three, with that Foden selection for David Silva the most significant. Spurs constantly shifted shape, installing Danny Rose in midfield on 69 minutes, reverting to a back four on 76 minutes. Ultimately, it was impressive by Spurs but it wasn’t enough.
Yet as Guardiola said, for Tottenham it may not be decisive, Pochettino indicating that he feels victories in the forthcoming home games against Brighton and West Ham can nudge them over the line. ‘It is in our hands to be in the top four,’ he said.
‘The next two games are going to be decisive. But I feel very proud. The performance today was very good.
‘At least we deserved a draw. The man of the match was the keeper, Ederson. We competed really well. We need to keep that feeling.’
There was a further reason to take a little gloss off City’s victory — Kevin De Bruyne’s departure on 31 minutes. Having given perhaps his best display for the club on Wednesday night, here his season’s injury curse returned.
The Belgian knew as soon as he struck the ball to shoot that his race was run as a muscle snapped, perhaps in his ankle. Scans today will tell all. It was always expecting a little too much for the game to match Wednesday night but the early signs were encouraging.
After three minutes Son darted away but his shot was blocked by Ederson.
On five minutes, Kyle Walker advanced up the right flank and fed the excellent Bernardo Silva, who cut inside and floated the ball across the box.
Sergio Aguero was there to head it across the penalty area and Foden’s movement meant he had a clear run to nod it home from six yards.
Thereafter City dominated possession yet Tottenham bettered them for decent chances, a pattern of these clubs’ encounters. Son, again, had the best of them, Eriksen releasing him on 17 minutes with a sublime ball but this time a diving tackle from Laporte prevented a likely equaliser. Just before half-time, though, Son had the beating of Laporte as he weaved through City players. He might have squared for Lucas Moura to score but chose to shoot and saw Ederson save.
The chances ebbed and flowed. Guardiola felt there should have been two penalties: one for Jan Vertonghen’s challenge on Bernardo on 20 minutes (he was wrong) and one for Walker’s handball on 69 minutes (which was a better shout, but he was still wrong).
In the second half an excellent save from Paulo Gazzaniga with his feet prevented Raheem Sterling from finishing the game.
Pochettino chased the game until the end, trying Danny Rose in midfield and bringing on Fernando Llorente to inevitable pantomime boos for his crucial contribution to City’s Champions League exit.
By the end they had done enough to make City sweat and their fans curse as the four minutes came up for added time. They did not do enough to take points, however.