Pep Guardiola talks about an improved Tottenham performance in the second half in the 3-3 draw against Man City
It took an inspired half-time talk from Ange Postecoglou to turn things around in Spurs’ favour after a forgettable first half in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City. At the break, Spurs faced an uphill task at 2-1 with Pep Guardiola heading back into the tunnel a happier manager.
Captain Son Heung-min scored the opener in just the sixth minute, and interestingly, it was also thanks to him that Man City bit back at us. A sad deflection from a set-piece a few minutes later saw things draw level. Phil Foden danced around Spurs’ second-choice centre-back pairing to hand them their second goal of the game.
Going into the second 45, Ange Postecoglou took Bryan Gil off for Piere-Emile Hojbjerg. That saw Dejan Kulusevski move to the wings and Giovani Lo Celso taking his natural #10 role. The switch paid dividends as Lo Celso scored in the 69th minute to make things level once again.
More than just the goal, it was the general attitude in the second half that is commendable. Much more confident in possession and attacking the second balls, Ange‘s side vastly improved in the second half of the game.
Top Second 45 from the Lilywhites
City’s quality saw them take the lead late into the game in the 80th minute thanks to Jack Grealish. Erling Haaland squared the ball into the middle from the right side, putting it on a plate for Grealish to guide into the back of the net. Moments later, Dejan Kulusevski took a towering leap to find himself at the end of a beautiful cross from Brennan Johnson to make it 3-3.
The fact that Guardiola recognizes and appreciates the improvement in Spurs’ gameplay speaks volumes about the positive direction the team is heading.
It’s a testament to Postecoglou’s tactical acumen and the players’ ability to adapt and execute the manager’s instructions effectively.
In the broader context, Guardiola’s comments certainly offer encouragement and optimism for Spurs supporters. When a manager of Guardiola’s stature acknowledges an opponent’s advancements, it reflects not only on the specific match but also on the potential and quality within the squad; albeit an injury-prone one.
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Ultimately, while a draw against Manchester City is a commendable result in itself, the added praise from Guardiola amplifies the significance of Tottenham’s performance. Keeping in consideration our form going into this game coupled with the injury issues, this performance is one we surely can be proud of.
