Following a dismal 1-0 defeat at home to Ipswich, Tottenham Hotspur pulled off one of the most remarkable performances in recent Premier League history by thrashing reigning champions Manchester City 4-1. It was a display of pure brilliance from Spurs, spearheaded by the sensational Dejan Kulusevski. Yet, while Tottenham were superb, Manchester City were atrocious, and the defeat exposed serious cracks in Pep Guardiola’s side that may take years to mend.
1. A Glimmer of Hope for Guardiola in Darkness
For Pep Guardiola, suffering four consecutive defeats for the first time in his managerial career had already been a humbling experience. But this fifth consecutive loss, and the sheer embarrassing nature of it, could very well serve as a turning point in his tenure at Manchester City. The defeat came on what should have been an evening of celebration, with Guardiola having just signed a new contract, Rodri attending his Ballon d’Or ceremony, and the return of a near-full strength squad that was expected to kickstart City’s faltering season. Instead, it felt more like a funeral for their aspirations.
On paper, it looked like a Manchester City team, but on the field, it was anything but. The defeat was their heaviest domestic home loss under Guardiola, matching the 4-0 drubbing by Everton in 2016, which at least came during his first season when an overhaul was inevitable. Back then, it was clear what needed to be fixed, and the changes followed swiftly. But now, with a squad that was supposed to be one of Europe’s finest, there is no clear answer, and no obvious quick fixes to restore the team’s glory.
The situation is dire. Even Dr. Tottenham, who is known for offering a remedy to troubled teams, couldn’t fix Manchester City’s woes. They look broken, confused, and utterly out of sync. Guardiola has a monumental task ahead, and even a two-year timeline might seem overly optimistic in trying to restore the team to their previous dominance.
2. The Same Old Guardiola? Not This Time.
For years, it has been customary to see Guardiola’s City hibernate through much of the early part of the season, only to hit top form from January onwards. It’s a pattern fans and pundits have become accustomed to. City would suffer early setbacks, but their quality would shine through after the turn of the year, leading to an unstoppable march to the title. However, this season feels different. This time, they’re not just losing games—they are being completely outplayed and exposed in ways that are entirely new for this Manchester City side.
While Guardiola’s teams have lost before, rarely have they been so easily beaten or made to look so amateurish. There’s a sense that the team is emotionally drained, not just tactically or physically worn down. In fact, four yellow cards in this game (the most ever under Guardiola’s reign in a Premier League match) highlighted the emotional turmoil players are going through, each of those bookings coming after Pedro Porro’s third goal had sealed the game. The cautionary cards issued to Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva, in particular, seemed more reflective of players desperately trying to hold on, trying to combat their own sense of inferiority, an emotion rarely seen from a Guardiola side.
This is no longer a well-oiled machine capable of grinding out results. Instead, it feels like a group of talented but disjointed individuals struggling to find a cohesive identity. Guardiola may be a tactical genius, but some problems cannot be solved with formations, substitutions, or simple tactical tweaks. Manchester City need to rediscover their self-belief and discipline before they can talk about tactics.
3. An Unforgiving Schedule
If there was any hope for City to regain their form in the coming weeks, the fixture list offers no respite. Feyenoord should be a winnable game in midweek, but a potential revenge mission awaits them at Anfield next Sunday, with Liverpool looking to exact immediate retribution for their loss earlier in the season. Following that, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are tricky encounters, clubs that have caused problems for much stronger City teams in recent years. And then there’s the Manchester Derby, where City will have to face a resurgent United, followed by tough battles with Aston Villa.
Even a Boxing Day fixture against Everton at home, once seen as a straightforward affair, now looks worrying for a team that is struggling for confidence. The relentless pressure of these fixtures will only increase the scrutiny on Guardiola, and City’s inability to bounce back from setbacks will leave every opponent eyeing a potential upset. They no longer have the luxury of fearing no one.
4. Tottenham’s Tactical Masterclass
While City were a shadow of their former selves, it’s important to acknowledge the brilliance of Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham’s 4-1 win was as much about their quality as it was about City’s failings. It was not so much that Spurs needed to play out of their skin to earn a lead; they were handed two early goals due to uncharacteristic City mistakes. But after that, Tottenham showed remarkable maturity and control.
They didn’t rush, didn’t get greedy—they simply played the game with the patience of a team fully aware that they could exploit Manchester City’s weaknesses. Postecoglou’s side sat deep when necessary, pressed when needed, and showcased enough tactical discipline to make the most of their counter-attacking opportunities. If Tottenham can continue to grow and build on this performance, they may yet become genuine contenders, even if their erratic form in the league (winning, losing, winning) makes long-term consistency seem like a tall order.
5. A Rare Tottenham Stat
The result was all the more poignant because of what came before it. Tottenham had just suffered a shock defeat to newly-promoted Ipswich at home, making them only the second Premier League team in history to lose to a promoted side at home before going on to beat the reigning champions away. It was a statistic that perfectly encapsulated Tottenham’s unpredictable nature under Ange Postecoglou: one week brilliant, the next week bizarre.
But as impressive as this win was, Tottenham must harness the momentum and consistency from this result to ensure it doesn’t become just another quirky blip in their history. After all, Guardiola’s City, despite their flaws, are still the champions, and no one is ever guaranteed to repeat such a performance in the future.
6. Early Signs of Trouble for City
The first 12 minutes of the game were a whirlwind. Manchester City created a host of chances, with Erling Haaland wasting several opportunities. Yves Bissouma picked up a quick yellow card, and it all pointed to a City thrashing. But Spurs weathered the storm and gradually took control.
Haaland missed three chances in quick succession, while Bissouma settled into the game after his early caution. Had City taken one of those opportunities, it could have been a different story. But Spurs capitalized on City’s inability to finish and grew into the game with every passing minute.
7. Kulusevski Shines
Dejan Kulusevski was the star of the show. His performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. Kulusevski didn’t just contribute to the scoreline; he was everywhere on the field. His dribbling, passing, and work rate were exceptional, as he terrorized the City defense. His second-half run and cross for the third goal exemplified his confidence and technical ability. He was a constant threat and made City’s defenders look helpless.
8. City’s Catastrophic Passes
Many of City’s problems came from sloppy and misplaced passes. Several key turnovers directly led to Tottenham’s goals. Josko Gvardiol’s careless pass set up the second goal, while Foden’s poor decision-making contributed to the third. Jack Grealish, too, had a disastrous blind pass that led to the fourth goal. And in the build-up to that goal, Kyle Walker’s sluggish response to Timo Werner’s run was unforgivable.
The mistakes were uncharacteristic of a Guardiola side, and they highlighted the lack of confidence running through the team.
9. An Emotional Collapse
But perhaps the most telling sign of City’s crisis came in the form of Ilkay Gundogan. The German midfielder, once a rock in City’s midfield, appeared sluggish and ineffective. His failure to track James Maddison’s run for Tottenham’s opener was indicative of the unraveling quality in City’s squad. When he was eventually caught by Kulusevski and Son, he had nothing left to give.
10. The Final Nail in the Coffin
Tottenham’s final two goals, from Werner and Johnson in injury time, were the ultimate insult to City’s pride. In the end, Postecoglou’s six attacking players were all involved in either a goal or assist. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night for Tottenham, while City was left to pick up the pieces.
In conclusion, Manchester City’s defeat was not just a loss; it was a humiliating collapse. Tottenham, on the other hand, showed how to exploit a wounded giant, and their performance will serve as a template for others facing Guardiola’s side. Whether this is a temporary blip for City or the beginning of a more significant crisis remains to be seen. For now, it’s back to the drawing board for Guardiola and his team.