THE NOTEBOOK: Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou indebted to City for his success, Rodri causes a headache for Pep Guardiola… and who was the mini-Erling Haaland in hospitality?
- Man City 3-3 Tottenham: Kulusevski’s 90th-minute header earns Spurs a point
- The City Football Group were impressed with Ange Postecoglou’s work in Japan
- We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski headed a late equaliser to earn his side a 3-3 draw at champions Manchester City in a rip-roaring Premier League contest on Sunday.
The match began in breathless fashion with Son Heung-min putting Tottenham ahead in the sixth minute before scoring at the other end three minutes later as a cross bounced in off his thigh.
Phil Foden’s slick 31st-minute goal put City ahead and they were denied by the woodwork twice before half time.
Giovani Lo Celso’s precise finish in the 69th minute made it 2-2 but Tottenham’s risk-taking approach cost them dear as a mistake allowed Grealish to put the hosts back in front only for the visitors to have the last laugh as they snapped a three-match losing sequence.
Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan takes a look at some of things you may have missed from Sunday’s match.
City Football Group were impressed with Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou’s work in Japan
Postecoglou indebted to City
As a former City Football Group manager, this wasn’t Ange Postecoglou’s first visit to the Etihad Stadium. But he might never have made it had it not been for Brian Marwood.
Postecoglou’s former assistant at Yokohama F. Marinos, Peter Cklamovski, revealed to Mail Sport that they were indebted to the patience of CFG chief Marwood for sticking with the pair when a first year in Japan almost ended in relegation.
‘They had the foresight to believe in Ange and his project,’ Cklamovski said. ‘They got the rewards for that. Maybe at other clubs we don’t get that second year or even get sacked during 2018.’
That second year ended in history, a J-League title, before Postecoglou went on to win the lot in Scotland.
Cklamovski – now FC Tokyo boss – added: ‘His belief and the way he builds his teams is closely aligned with the City way, as they call it. To be honest, I miss working with him. I loved it.
‘It’s tough because I love him. I gave him everything. It wasn’t easy to detach from him.’
CFG hold the Australian in high regard and loosely floated the idea of coaching Girona while he was at Yokohama.
Legend Brady’s watching brief
A Birmingham City delegation was in town, with former City chief executive Garry Cook arriving alongside a far more illustrious guest.
Tom Brady, an investor in the Championship side, was given access to the training ground and wanted to see how the Premier League champions operate.
A slightly different spectacle to the goalless draw against Rotherham United at St Andrew’s on Saturday.
Tom Brady was all smiles as he arrived at the Etihad to watch Man City vs Spurs on Sunday
Your browser does not support iframes.
Rodri causes a headache
Rodri has been walking a disciplinary tightrope since the 4-4 draw at Chelsea and his first-half yellow card will see the midfielder miss the trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
It causes Pep Guardiola a mild headache ahead of a fixture he is worried about. Mateo Kovacic has only just returned from injury and regardless, his last go as a No 6 was a dreadful afternoon at Wolves.
Mini Haaland in hospitality
There was a mini-Erling Haaland in the Etihad’s hospitality enclosure, the Tunnel Club. Hair exactly the same – and he was sitting next to a City favourite from yesteryear. Tayo Dunne was the man in question, an Ireland Under-15 international, here with his father, former centre half Richard.
The Haaland comparisons stop there, though. Dunne is a defender, like his old man, and is with U.S Cap d’Ail Monaco’s academy.
He will have noted that Haaland’s afternoon might be remembered for two wasted opportunities before half time rather than an ever-improving link-up play.
The general all-round excellence is becoming a hallmark of his game – typified by the assist for Jack Grealish.
Spurs defender Destiny Udogie (right) challenges Man City’s Phil Foden on Sunday
Udogie poses a threat
Tottenham are glad to have Destiny Udogie back properly.
The young full back is so integral to how Postecoglou plans to play, with his boundless energy and positional dexterity.
The 20-year-old, seemingly destined to become one of the world’s best, often sat in pockets high up near City’s centre halves as Spurs built up, which caused problems.
Pep Guardiola even sacrificed Phil Foden, pushing Bernardo Silva wide instead, to counter Udogie’s threat.
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.
Your browser does not support iframes.
Source: Read Full Article
