Man City 4-1 Tottenham: The power of the king
Man City had an absolutely brilliant day. Their 4-1 victory over Tottenham not only brought three points to the Etihad Stadium but also reaffirmed the strength of the reigning Premier League champions.
GOALSCORERS
Man City:Aguero (13', 20', 68', 75')
Tottenham:Eriksen (15')
VIDEO: Man City 4-1 Tottenham (video from VnExpress.net)
TRAP SPURS
Man City pulled off a minor surprise against Tottenham, entering the Etihad Stadium with several changes to their lineup. Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure were both absent from the starting XI. However, the biggest impact of manager Manuel Pellegrini was his attacking setup. Instead of using a strike partnership, Pellegrini decided to bench Edin Dzeko, placing Sergio Aguero as the sole striker. Supporting the Argentinian forward were James Milner, David Silva, and Jesus Navas.
That formation makes Man City's style of play extremely dynamic. The Manchester team often has five players battling in midfield. As soon as they regain possession, sprinting specialists like Milner, Navas, and especially Aguero immediately accelerate straight towards the opponent's goal.
Man City's style of play made it extremely difficult for Tottenham to cope. Aguero's unpredictable movements caused the visiting team's defense a lot of trouble. They were constantly chasing after their opponents instead of being able to proactively organize their defense. As a result, after 13 minutes, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris's net was shaken by a decisive and skillful shot from Sergio Aguero.
Aguero caused a lot of problems for the Spurs defense.
Yesterday was a fantastic day for Aguero. Despite missing a penalty, the Argentinian striker still managed to score four goals. He scored a brace within just 20 minutes, completed a hat-trick in 68 minutes, and finished his brilliant performance with a fourth goal in the 75th minute.
MAN CITY ACCELERATES
Tottenham endured a nightmare weekend at the Etihad. They chose the wrong approach, leading to a complete collapse and a humiliating 1-4 defeat. Spurs were clearly on a much lower level than Man City. The Manchester team not only had a sublime Aguero, but other players also shone brightly. Frank Lampard, before leaving the field due to injury, had an assist and earned a penalty. James Milner also shed his image of being a poor player with his unpredictable dribbling.
What unfolded at the Etihad Stadium last night showed that Man City is a complete attacking machine. They know how to press, deceive their opponents, and are extremely sharp in their finishing. Statistics show that Man City had 12 shots on target out of a total of 20 attempts at goal. That means the accuracy rate of shots on target for Pellegrini's team reached an enviable 60%.
Joe Hart (in the blue shirt) also had an outstanding game.
After a tough start due to facing several strong opponents, Man City is gradually picking up speed. Defeating Tottenham last weekend, the Etihad Stadium team secured their fourth consecutive domestic victory. In that run, City scored 17 goals. These numbers, along with their impressive performance last night, show that Man City has rediscovered the strength of the reigning champions. Man City is surging forward with powerful strides, now putting strong pressure on league leaders Chelsea. Not only are they demonstrating formidable attacking power, but they are also showcasing versatility in their playing style and the shrewd adaptability of manager Pellegrini.
Manchester City are poised for even stronger progress thanks to their favorable upcoming fixtures. In the next six rounds, the reigning Premier League champions will only face one tough opponent: Manchester United. This provides a basis for fans at the Etihad Stadium to hope that Man City will secure a favorable position in the Premier League title race.
STARTING LINEUP:
Man City:Hart, Clichy, Demichelis, Kompany, Sagna, Milner, Lampard, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Aguero.
Tottenham:Lloris; Dier, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose; Capoue, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Soldado.
According to Bongdaplus
