A lack of midfield discipline blew Pochettino’s game plan

SPURS got out of jail last night — and I’m not just talking about the disallowed goal by Gabriel Jesus. City should have been out of sight by then. Although they played well, Tottenham’s problems were selfinflicted, partly because of the way Mauricio Pochettino set up, but largely because the players didn’t take enough responsibility to nullify City.

Spurs were lucky to be trailing only 2-1 when Lucas Moura came off the bench to score the equalising header.

Pochettino started 4-4-1-1 with Erik Lamela off Harry Kane. But Tottenham’s midfield four let their runners go and when you do that, tactics don’t matter. Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko were narrow to the point where they were letting full-backs burst past them at will, particularly Kyle

Walker. Even more damagingly, Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele weren’t disciplined enough or working hard enough to match City in the middle.

Kevin De Bruyne killed them with his passing and movement and Ilkay Gundogan was getting into pockets of space.

I like Winks and I’m sure he wanted to keep the midfield shape and stay close to his team-mates. But sometimes when you’re on the pitch and you see De Bruyne breaking free, rotating positions and causing havoc, you’ve got to stay with him; nail him down.

Tottenham gave themselves a mountain to climb and it’s to their credit that they did find their way back into the game, although Moura’s great leap helped them when they probably didn’t deserve to score.

Pochettino’s system in the second half was better with Sissoko more central, to use his power, and Lamela and Moura out wider to support Harry Kane. All of a sudden, City’s players found it harder to gain space.

I don’t think the pow-wow between Sergio Aguero and Pep Guardiola will have any long lasting effects. There should be another time and place to sort out differences but Aguero was clearly disappointed at being substituted and it was a heat-ofthe-moment thing.

Pep is Pep and none of his players would really want to change him.