Pep Guardiola conceded that the poor state of the Wembley pitch helped Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, as he felt that Erik Lamela would have scored his late chance had it not been for the condition of the grass.
With the game already having been supposed to take place on the Sunday at the new White Hart Lane, the stadium construction’s delay meant this fixture was rearranged and that the surface was ravaged after a series of NFL matches were played at Wembley.
That played its part in a peculiar match that culminated in a bad late miss for Lamela when he had he chance to equalise Riyad Mahrez’s opening goal, although replays showed the ball bobbled up just before the Argentine hit it. Guardiola expressed sympathy for the winger.
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.
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.
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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
“Lamela had a clear chance and due to the grass they did not score,” the Catalan said. “If the grass is good, Lamela with his quality in his left foot is in a better position to score a goal.”
“Of course it’s a good victory, for the conditions and the tough opponents. Congratulations to both sides
“Of course it was a good victory against a tough opponent, one of the more physical opponents I have faced in my career. Congratulations to both sides because it was a good game in difficult conditions with the pitch.
“To play a football game in that pitch is not easy. That’s why there were many mistakes that usually should not happen…”
Guardiola meanwhile said he did not have to give Mahrez any special talk before the game, on what was clearly an emotional night for the Algerian after the tragic death of his former boss at Leicester City, Vishai Srivaddhanaprabha. Mahrez dedicated his winning strike to the club owner who was responsible for that sensational 205-16 title win, of which Mahrez was such a star.
“Of course all of us spoke with him about how he feels. Of course it’s a big loss for all the families and Leicester especially. Riyad was part of that for many, many years. It was tough but I did not speak with him in terms of how he felt to play today because I know how competitive he is and how he likes to play in big events, big stages. Sometimes playing games helps.”
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