Mauricio Pochettino was proud of his Tottenham Hotspur team for making Manchester City “suffer” in their 1-0 defeat at Wembley.
Spurs went down to Riyad Mahrez’s early strike but they pushed City back in the second half, Erik Lamela missing a golden chance to equalise in the final minutes. Given that Spurs lost 4-1 and 3-1 to Manchester City last year, and were dominated both times, Pochettino was proud of how his team took the game to City.
“I am so proud of the effort that we made, fantastic,” Pochettino said afterwards. “It was a very competitive, even game. We created a lot of chances. Last season it was difficult to compete against Manchester City in both games we played. In Manchester and here the gap between the level was massive between the teams. Today was a very competitive even game.”
1/22 Hugo Lloris: 6/10
Made a couple of crucial saves but was once again put under lots of pressure and didn’t always look super confident in front of goal. Nowhere to be seen for City’s goal.
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2/22 Kieran Trippier: 5/10
He was okay in an attacking sense and put in some dangerous crosses but he was the most susceptible for City’s goal and looked uncomfortable in defending for a lot of the evening.
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3/22 Davinson Sanchez: 6/10
Been really impressive this season but today wasn’t his finest day. I don’t think it’ll be a fine day for most centre backs taking on City, mind you.
AP
4/22 Toby Alderweireld: 6/10
Was fine but less composed when not alongside Vertonghen.
EPA
5/22 Ben Davies: 5/10
Lost Mahrez for City’s opening goal and didn’t offer too much going forward. Danny Rose to come back in.
EPA
6/22 Eric Dier: 5/10
Made some unnecessary fouls as per usual and was bettered by City’s midfielders on the whole during the game. Subbed off after an hour.
REUTERS
7/22 Moussa Dembele: 6/10
Was better than his midfield partner and showed his strength at certain times but it’s still hard to play against this relentless City side.
EPA
8/22 Moussa Sissoko: 6/10
Has a few positive moments but lacks the composure on the ball in the key areas.
AP
9/22 Erik Lamela: 6/10
Like Lucas, looked good in sparks, but lost the ball just far too often, giving it back to Manchester City all too often. Provided the best chance for Spurs with a clever pass, though.
AP
10/22 Lucas Moura: 5/10
Showed some decent bursts of pace and looked a threat, like he has for a lot of this season so far, but his dive was rather appalling and he couldn’t find as much space as he has done this year.
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11/22 Harry Kane: 5/10
Another off night for the English centre forward. Just hasn’t quite got back to his best yet and a really heavy touch in the first half set the tone for his evening.
EPA
12/22 Ederson: 8/10
Another fantastic display from the Brazilian as it was his long ball that set Raheem Sterling on his way early in the first half to set up Riyah Mahrez but he also made crucial blocks to stop Harry Kane.
PA
13/22 Kyle Walker: 7/10
A good performance for the returning full back. Caught out of position on a few occasions but a generally good showing.
AP
14/22 John Stones: 7/10
Strong performance from a player who has had his critics.
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15/22 Aymeric Laporte: 8/10
Continues to impress at the heart of the City defence, having played every minute so far this season.
AFP/Getty Images
16/22 Benjamin Mendy: 6/10
Definitely the most susceptible player in City’s backline. Made a couple of errors but got away with them as Spurs failed to capitalise.
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17/22 Bernardo Silva: 7/10
Neat and tidy performance again, creating plenty of good moments for City.
AFP/Getty Images
18/22 Fernandinho: 8/10
Such a composed and impressive midfielder who allows the fluid attacking to happen in front of him.
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19/22 David Silva: 7/10
Wasn’t at his majestic best this evening and missed a fantastic opportunity to make it 2-0 in the second half but despite that, still the master at keeping the ball.
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20/22 Riyad Mahrez – 8/10
Really improving in the blue (or purple) of City, and has put that Liverpool penalty miss behind him. Scored City’s only goal this evening and dedicated to the Leicester chairman, who sadly died in the Saturday night helicopter crash outside the King Power stadium.
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21/22 Sergio Aguero: 6/10
Aguero missed countless opportunities to put the game to bed but he still led the line efficiently and despite the lack of goals, can be reasonably happy with his performance.
EPA
22/22 Raheem Sterling: 8/10
Caused all sorts of problems for Kieran Trippier and set up City’s early goal. Just another good performance from the English winger.
PA
1/22 Hugo Lloris: 6/10
Made a couple of crucial saves but was once again put under lots of pressure and didn’t always look super confident in front of goal. Nowhere to be seen for City’s goal.
Getty Images
2/22 Kieran Trippier: 5/10
He was okay in an attacking sense and put in some dangerous crosses but he was the most susceptible for City’s goal and looked uncomfortable in defending for a lot of the evening.
Getty Images
3/22 Davinson Sanchez: 6/10
Been really impressive this season but today wasn’t his finest day. I don’t think it’ll be a fine day for most centre backs taking on City, mind you.
AP
4/22 Toby Alderweireld: 6/10
Was fine but less composed when not alongside Vertonghen.
EPA
5/22 Ben Davies: 5/10
Lost Mahrez for City’s opening goal and didn’t offer too much going forward. Danny Rose to come back in.
EPA
6/22 Eric Dier: 5/10
Made some unnecessary fouls as per usual and was bettered by City’s midfielders on the whole during the game. Subbed off after an hour.
REUTERS
7/22 Moussa Dembele: 6/10
Was better than his midfield partner and showed his strength at certain times but it’s still hard to play against this relentless City side.
EPA
8/22 Moussa Sissoko: 6/10
Has a few positive moments but lacks the composure on the ball in the key areas.
AP
9/22 Erik Lamela: 6/10
Like Lucas, looked good in sparks, but lost the ball just far too often, giving it back to Manchester City all too often. Provided the best chance for Spurs with a clever pass, though.
AP
10/22 Lucas Moura: 5/10
Showed some decent bursts of pace and looked a threat, like he has for a lot of this season so far, but his dive was rather appalling and he couldn’t find as much space as he has done this year.
Getty Images
11/22 Harry Kane: 5/10
Another off night for the English centre forward. Just hasn’t quite got back to his best yet and a really heavy touch in the first half set the tone for his evening.
EPA
12/22 Ederson: 8/10
Another fantastic display from the Brazilian as it was his long ball that set Raheem Sterling on his way early in the first half to set up Riyah Mahrez but he also made crucial blocks to stop Harry Kane.
PA
13/22 Kyle Walker: 7/10
A good performance for the returning full back. Caught out of position on a few occasions but a generally good showing.
AP
14/22 John Stones: 7/10
Strong performance from a player who has had his critics.
Getty Images
15/22 Aymeric Laporte: 8/10
Continues to impress at the heart of the City defence, having played every minute so far this season.
AFP/Getty Images
16/22 Benjamin Mendy: 6/10
Definitely the most susceptible player in City’s backline. Made a couple of errors but got away with them as Spurs failed to capitalise.
Getty Images
17/22 Bernardo Silva: 7/10
Neat and tidy performance again, creating plenty of good moments for City.
AFP/Getty Images
18/22 Fernandinho: 8/10
Such a composed and impressive midfielder who allows the fluid attacking to happen in front of him.
Getty Images
19/22 David Silva: 7/10
Wasn’t at his majestic best this evening and missed a fantastic opportunity to make it 2-0 in the second half but despite that, still the master at keeping the ball.
Getty Images
20/22 Riyad Mahrez – 8/10
Really improving in the blue (or purple) of City, and has put that Liverpool penalty miss behind him. Scored City’s only goal this evening and dedicated to the Leicester chairman, who sadly died in the Saturday night helicopter crash outside the King Power stadium.
Getty Images
21/22 Sergio Aguero: 6/10
Aguero missed countless opportunities to put the game to bed but he still led the line efficiently and despite the lack of goals, can be reasonably happy with his performance.
EPA
22/22 Raheem Sterling: 8/10
Caused all sorts of problems for Kieran Trippier and set up City’s early goal. Just another good performance from the English winger.
PA
City dominated possession in the first half but Spurs came back into the second half, impressing their manager.
“When you compete with this type of team like Manchester City, it is difficult to dominate because they play with a similar philosophy to us, trying to dominate the opposition,” he said. “In the first half we suffered a bit, and conceded so early, it’s normal they played with more security and trust. In the second half we dominated, it was very good. I’m happy with the performance. When you compare with last season we didn’t compete there, or here at Wembley. But today was a game we believed we can win. We didn’t win, but we did translate my messages.”
Pochettino admitted that there was not much he could do to keep pace with City given the gulf in resources. “We cannot compare ourselves with Manchester City,” he said. “We are on a different level. We still have not achieved the lelve of Manchester City. They are a team focused on winning titles. We are focused on different things, not only to win games. The gap is not big, but we need to respect the gap.”
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