Manchester City’s struggles continued in a nightmarish clash against Tottenham Hotspur, suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss.
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The match exposed the cracks in Pep Guardiola’s side, with defensive lapses and a lackluster midfield performance. Spurs, meanwhile, showcased their dominance, taking full advantage of City’s woes.
Spurs outclass man city in crushing defeat
Manchester City’s struggles deepened as Tottenham handed Pep Guardiola’s men a resounding 4-0 defeat.
James Maddison scored twice early, setting the stage for a dominant Spurs performance. Goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson sealed City’s fate, marking their fifth consecutive loss in all competitions.
The absence of key players like Rodri in midfield has been a recurring issue for City. Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, capitalized on their opponent’s vulnerabilities, particularly in the middle of the park.
Gundogan faces heavy criticism
Ilkay Gundogan, who returned to Manchester City this summer, endured a particularly difficult outing. Paired alongside young Rico Lewis in midfield, Gundogan struggled to keep pace with Tottenham’s dynamic midfielders.
Jamie Redknapp, analyzing the match for Sky Sports, expressed his disappointment. “Gundogan couldn’t get around the pitch today – he couldn’t get near anybody. His focus just wasn’t right,” Redknapp stated, highlighting the German’s inability to match Spurs’ energy.
Defensive errors cost city
Redknapp further dissected Gundogan’s performance, pointing to a key moment that led to Maddison’s first goal.
“Gundogan made one of the most elementary mistakes in football by failing to track his man. All he had to do was follow the run, but instead, he left John Stones exposed,” Redknapp said.
This lack of defensive awareness, coupled with sluggish midfield play, allowed Tottenham to dominate possession and capitalize on City’s disorganized defense.
City slips further behind in title race
With this loss, Manchester City now trails Liverpool by five points in the Premier League standings. Liverpool has the opportunity to widen the gap to eight points if they secure a win against Southampton on Sunday. Guardiola will need to address his side’s glaring weaknesses to halt their alarming slide in form.