Despite their recent slide, the atmosphere was feverish inside the Etihad ahead of kick-off on Saturday evening.
There was a sense of Tottenham’s visit developing into a ‘get-right’ game for Manchester City. Supporters enjoyed the pre-match party as Rodri celebrated his Ballon d’Or triumph and Pep Guardiola waltzed into the home dugout after news of his contract extension broke in the week.
Sure, the Lilywhite boogeymen were in town, but four wasn’t going to become five, was it? City don’t lose at the Etihad. They can’t lose at the Etihad. It’s been two years.
Well, the current iteration of Pep Guardiola’s side most certainly can. And they were beaten in some style by a rampant Spurs. The Jekyll and Hyde Lilywhites have angered as much as they’ve impressed this term, and perhaps we should’ve foreshadowed this result given their violent swings in form. How else were they going to respond to a 2-1 home defeat to the previously winless Ipswich Town?
This result was a seismic one for a myriad reasons, and here are some of the key Tottenham talking points.
Kulusevski has emerged as Tottenham’s standout performer this term and a potential future club captain. Inspired by all-time sporting greats and boasting lofty ambitions for his own career, the Swede is coming of age in Lilywhite.
Kulusevski’s early brilliance in N17 once had Guardiola puffing out his cheeks in awe of the Swede. “What a player!” the Spaniard said of Tottenham’s silky creator in early 2023. The former Juventus man hasn’t always sparkled after an excellent start to his Tottenham career, but he’s typically dazzled in front of the City boss, and he simply loves playing at the Etihad.
His first Premier League goal came at City’s fortress, and he starred in a central role last season before scoring a dramatic late equaliser in a stunning 3-3 draw. This was his best Etihad showing, though.
Returning to a wide position, Kulusevski’s powerful majesty manifested throughout. He was limited to a mere 30 touches – the second-fewest on the team – but the playmaker’s impact was staggering. After teeing up the similarly brilliant James Maddison with a perfectly weighted back post cross for the opener, Kulusevski almost single-handedly created Spurs’ breakaway third. The bulk of his total touches arrived during this special sequence, including a nutmeg on Ilkay Gundogan, the bypassing of Kyle Walker, and a clever crossfield pass for Dominic Solanke.
He’s a player Guardiola would cherish in sky blue.
Tim Sherwood hasn’t exactly been renowned for producing the shrewdest of takes in the punditry sphere, but he was bang-on after Tottenham’s emphatic triumph.
“It’s incredible. Shame on you guys [some Tottenham supporters] for wanting this guy out. This guy, for me, is a breath of fresh air and what Tottenham needed,” he said on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live.
“He needs results like this to convince a lot of the fan base that he is the main man,” he added.
Tottenham have been awfully inconsistent as of late, and their record in 2024 has been sub-par. Saturday’s result was the ultimate vindication of his principles and north London project. Much was made of City’s absences and woes, but Postecoglou rocked up to Manchester without his two starting centre-backs and preferred #6 on Saturday. He made it work.
This was a result and performance that was reminiscent of Liverpool’s 4-1 triumph at the Etihad within a couple of months of Jurgen Klopp taking on the job. The German’s project was quickly validated by that crushing victory at the home of Manuel Pellegrini’s Cityzens, and while Postecoglou’s potentially project-defining victory arrived in year two, it could nonetheless boast similar long-term significance.
Expectations for Spurs supporters were on the floor heading into the contest given what happened two weeks ago against Ipswich. Moreover, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven’s absences were confirmed in the week.
Pessimism was rife.
Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies were the makeshift centre-back combination tasked with taming Erling Haaland, and the signs were ominous early as they were thrust into unfavourable situations in defensive transition. However, once Spurs mitigate an early sky-blue storm reminiscent of Bart’s ongoing potency, Dragusin and Davies settled. The latter was particularly impressive.
The Welshman has spent more than a decade in north London and considered a back-up for the bulk of his Tottenham career. For some, he’s come to symbolise the mediocrity Spurs have often sunk into post-Pochettino, but such a suggestion is incredibly harsh on a true model professional.
Davies is far from flashy, but he’s ever so dependable and almost always looks at ease in a tough centre-back role. He was borderline faultless at the Etihad; shackling Haaland while offering composure in possession.
This Spurs performance was dominated by marvellous cohesion and a couple of standout individual displays, but Davies’ unheralded brilliance shouldn’t go under the radar.
