It was a very nervy affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and defeat for the home side means they miss out on Champions League football next season. City moves two points clear of Arsenal at the top with one game to play after a brace for Erling Haaland. The pre-match build-up of the game was dominated by discussion over whether Spurs wanted to beat City knowing that a win over Pep Guardiola’s side would give fierce rivals Arsenal the chance to win the Premier League title on the final day of the season.
Haaland opened the scoring after latching onto Kevin de Bruyne’s cutback at the start of the second half to prompt wild celebrations amongst City faithful, while some Spurs supporters also joined in. Cameras caught Tottenham fans doing City’s famous ‘Poznan’ celebration that sees them turn their back to the pitch while jumping up and down.
Chants of ‘stand up if you hate the Arsenal’ were also heard around the stadium after the goal went in. Tottenham gaffer showed his disappointment by saying “The last 48 hours have revealed to me the foundations are pretty fragile,” he said at the post-match news conference.
“Outside and inside we need to go back to the drawing board with everything.
“I probably misread the situation in what is important in what you need to do to be a winning side.”
he added: “It was a tight game. In the big moments, we weren’t able to capitalize and they were.
“We were in the goal the whole time. Even at 1-0, we had the chance to level. Up until their second we were in it.
“We had opportunities within the game to punish them. We still have some work to do.
“We lost the game so I’m disappointed (to miss out on the Champions League), we’ll assess the season as we go.
“Wherever you finish is a fair reflection of where you are at.”
Meanwhile city Boss has also reacted to the win against Spurs thus “These types of games, with the emotions, are difficult,”
“The opponent was difficult but in the right moment, we punished them.
“They have a lot of pace to get in behind. They are an exceptional team.
“When you play thinking about the consequences, losing the Premier League, they feel the pressure and cannot perform to the usual level.
“It will be there against West Ham on Sunday, the emotions are there. You need to relax and do what you need to do.
“They are not celebrating anything. Relief because we lead going into the last game but everything can happen.”
Meanwhile, city faithful have praised Substitute keeper, Stefan Ortega who came on for the injured Ederson after he made a crucial save to deny Tottenham forward Heugmin Son from finding the net in the 85th minute.
Up next for Tottenham is relegated Sheffield United while City will lock horns with West Ham
The battle for the title will go to the wire and so will the battle for the Europa League spots.
