Man City vs Tottenham: Pep must overcome the “ghost” of defeat

23/08/2025 07:01:00 pandatv

Man City, shaped by Pep Guardiola’s new style, have had a flawless start to this Premier League season. Nevertheless, the Etihad club needs to overcome the opponent who beat them 4-0 last year.

Man City kicked off the 2025/26 season with excitement after a 4-0 victory over Wolves. It’s fair to say the Etihad team has returned, but there are still many challenges awaiting them.

The return of Pep Guardiola and Man City

According to Mail Sport, Pep Guardiola has shown a refreshed image. At 54 years old, the Spanish coach is described as “back,” with renewed enthusiasm for coaching after a challenging 2024/25 season.

This revival partly stems from having more time on the training ground, as the club did not tour abroad. Guardiola and his new assistant, Pep Lijnders, often stayed long after sessions to discuss tactics and test ideas.

A streamlined squad, combined with a restructuring of the coaching staff, has helped Guardiola regain his motivation. Man City underwent a significant overhaul during the transfer window, bringing in six new players while several key figures left or went out on loan.

One of the standout moments in the win against Wolves was the performance of newcomer Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch midfielder scored one goal, assisted Haaland, and was directly involved in many attacking plays.

Reijnders impressed with his versatility. He can operate as a defensive midfielder alongside Nico Gonzalez to disrupt attacks or push forward as a box-to-box midfielder, carrying the ball and contributing to goals. On BBC’s Match of the Day, legend Alan Shearer praised Reijnders highly: “He’s truly exceptional! Almost a perfect midfield display. To stand out so much in his league debut is remarkable. His game reading, movement on and off the ball—all incredibly impressive.”

Despite the 4-0 win, Pep Guardiola understands the season still holds many matches, and Wolves are not yet the true test for his team.

Nothing guarantees Man City will have a successful season

The challenge from Tottenham

Tottenham defeated Man City 4-0 at the Etihad last season. After that loss, Pep admitted his team was “fragile defensively” and the players’ confidence was shaken. It’s no exaggeration to say that defeat, along with other poor results, became a “ghost” haunting Pep Guardiola and his players throughout the 2024/25 season.

This season, Tottenham also started impressively with a 3-0 win over Burnley, just three days after a tense friendly against PSG. Coach Thomas Frank demonstrated tactical flexibility. Against PSG, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario frequently launched long balls, but versus Burnley, he focused on ball retention, with only two kicks traveling over half the pitch. Thanks to patient ball circulation, Tottenham created Richarlison’s second goal after 17 consecutive passes, involving Vicario’s contribution.

Goals from Richarlison and Brennan Johnson helped Tottenham score three times against Burnley—a team that last season never conceded more than two goals in a match.

Set pieces could also become a weapon for Tottenham. During his time at Brentford, Frank built a side ranked among the best in the league at dead-ball situations, and Tottenham is beginning to show similar signs. This will pose a significant challenge for Man City’s defense.

Finally, Pep must pay attention to Tottenham’s rising spirit. Thomas Frank’s team is energized by a youthful squad and tactical discipline.

To overcome the haunting memory of last season’s defeat, Pep Guardiola and Man City must beat Tottenham in the upcoming match. The victory over Wolves was only the first step; the game against Tottenham will be the real test for Man City.

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