Spurs Stun City Again, Frank’s Rebuild Gains Momentum
London, england – Tottenham hotspur continued thier impressive start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday, marking the eighth Premier league loss for City manager Pep Guardiola against Spurs – more than against any other opponent. The win sends Spurs to the top of the league table after two games, fueling optimism around Ange Postecoglou’s early impact as manager.
The result comes after Spurs’ triumph in the UEFA europa League, despite a challenging 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season. Postecoglou acknowledged the road ahead will have its challenges,but expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress. “Second half I think we were very good,” he stated after the match. “The spell where they could put pressure on us, we were very aggressive in the pressure.”
Spurs took the lead with a goal stemming from a defensive lapse by City. John Stones attempted to play Richarlison offside, but the tactic failed, contributing to the opening goal. City equalized, but Tottenham secured the win with a second goal that exposed vulnerabilities in City’s defensive setup and raised questions about goalkeeper James trafford’s performance.
The clean sheet was a particular point of pride for Postecoglou, highlighting a key area of focus for the team. “The clean sheet makes me very happy. It is indeed a big thing we have been working on. Blocking shots, everything. Last year we had six clean sheets.”
Guardiola’s side, implementing a higher defensive line since the arrival of Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders, appeared susceptible to balls over the top. Trafford, making his second Premier League start after a clean sheet against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, appeared shaky dealing with through balls and was directly at fault for City’s second goal conceded. This performance has prompted speculation about the future of City’s goalkeeping situation, with former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, currently available after leaving the French club, potentially being considered.Guardiola remained non-committal about his starting lineup for next weekend’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion. “James made a good first game [against Wolves] and I decided to continue,” Guardiola explained. ”When I take decisions in the first part of the season, for all the players, you play one or two and everyone thinks ‘OK, this is the starting lineup’.It was just today I decided that.” He emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “It’s just the second game. The last game against Wolves everyone said everything was fine,but I said it was just the first game and it’s the same now. We have to improve. We have seven days rest and then Brighton.”
Tottenham will look to continue their strong start with another win next Saturday against Bournemouth, a result that would further solidify the impression that Postecoglou’s impact extends beyond the transfer market. The club has been active in the transfer window, but this early success suggests a tactical and motivational shift is also taking place under the australian manager.
Context & Key Details:
Ange Postecoglou’s Appointment: Postecoglou was appointed Tottenham manager in June 2023,replacing Cristian Stellini who was sacked mid-season after a poor run of form. He previously managed Celtic, leading them to two Scottish Premiership titles.
Pep Lijnders’ Influence: Pep Lijnders joined Manchester City as assistant manager in july 2023, bringing his high-pressing, attacking philosophy honed during his time at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp. Goalkeeping Situation at City: Ederson, City’s established number one goalkeeper, was on the bench for the match against spurs. Trafford, a recent signing from Burnley, was given an opportunity to prove himself, but his performance raised concerns. Donnarumma’s availability presents a potential solution for Guardiola.
Spurs’ Transfer Activity: While the article mentions the transfer market, it doesn’t detail specific signings. Spurs have been relatively busy this summer, bringing in players like James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario to bolster their squad.
* Fan Reaction: The traveling Spurs fans celebrated the win with chants of “It’s happened again” and “We are top of the league,” reflecting a history of surprising results against City.
