Pep Guardiola barely took a second to provide his reply. Last season was coming to a detailed, Manchester City had simply clinched one other English Premier League title, and the workforce would quickly be successful the FA Cup and Champions League to finish the best marketing campaign within the membership’s historical past. So, Guardiola was requested, what can be his subsequent problem at City.
Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola celebrates with Mateo Kovacic after the match (REUTERS)
“Score a goal against Spurs away,” the supervisor responded instantly, earlier than placing his arms in a praying gesture. In what could be essentially the most puzzling head-to-head file in English soccer, City — the workforce that appears to brush all earlier than it — simply can not get a win at Tottenham Hotspur. Or even draw.
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Indeed, a lot to Guardiola’s chagrin, they cannot even rating. Since Tottenham moved into its state-of-the-art, USD 1 billion-plus stadium in 2019, City has performed there 5 occasions — as soon as within the Champions League and 4 occasions within the Premier League.
Tottenham has gained 1-0, 2-0, 2-0, 1-0 and 1-0. City and Guardiola get one other likelihood to finish that hoodoo on Friday after they journey to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play the headline match within the fourth spherical of the FA Cup.
Son Heung-min and Harry Kane have been the scourges of City in these current video games, usually scoring on the counter-attack after lengthy intervals of City dominating possession, however neither is round this time. Son is on the Asian Cup with South Korea and Kane moved to Bayern Munich within the offseason.
Yet, in Ange Postecoglou’s first season in cost, Tottenham is displaying it has the attacking weapons whoever performs up entrance. The membership’s final sport was a 2-2 draw at Manchester United within the league when Spurs had been the higher workforce and created many alternatives with out Son.
Last month, City dominated Spurs in a league match at dwelling however nonetheless could not shrug them off, squandering a 3-1 lead to attract 3-3.
Tottenham’s line shall be led by Brazil striker Richarlison, who has six targets in his final six league video games, whereas playmaker James Maddison returned to coaching this week after 2 1/2 months out. The hosts nonetheless have loads to concern City, regardless of the continued absence of Son.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s hopes for that elusive aim at Spurs have not been helped by star striker Erling Haaland not being able to return from a foot damage that has sidelined him for the reason that first week in December.
Kevin De Bruyne is again, nonetheless, after his lengthy damage and could also be in line for a primary begin in his comeback following a shocking cameo in its place in City’s most up-to-date sport — a 3-2 win at Newcastle United on January 13 when the Belgium midfielder scored one aim and arrange one other in lower than half-hour on the sector.
City has failed to attain in solely three of its 32 video games. Doing so once more, for a sixth time in a row in away video games towards Tottenham, can be outstanding.
There’s one other all-Premier League match-up within the final 32 on Friday when Aston Villa travels to Chelsea, and three extra on Saturday: Everton vs Luton Town, Sheffield United vs Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham vs Newcastle.
Manchester United performs away to fourth-tier Newport County on Sunday when Liverpool hosts Norwich City.
On Monday, Wrexham, the fourth-tier Welsh membership owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, visits second-tier Blackburn Rovers.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
