Manchester City FC

Pep Guardiola’s men headed to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for this Round Four encounter with Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.

It’s been an incredibly strong start to the 2024/25 campaign for the Blues as we sit on the summit of the Premier League table, a point ahead of Liverpool.

But this was a switch in schedule as we aimed for progress through to the quarter-finals of a competition we have won eight times in our history.

We went into this one with several injuries including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish as well as long-term absentees Oscar Bobb and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

But that offered an opportunity for others including youthful midfielder Nico O’Reilly who came into the starting XI for this clash with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Jacob Wright on the bench.

Who would get through in this one?

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The Blues are struggling with injuries at present with a host of players on the treatment table at the CFA.

So the boss had to shuffle his pack for the Round Four clash with Nico O’Reilly starting in the capital and Youth Cup-winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey coming on for his senior debut, joining O’Reilly and fellow graduates James McAtee, Rico Lewis and Jacob Wright on the pitch in the second half.

The manager hailed his young Blues for their performance in the capital.

“The Nico we saw tonight was the Nico we met last season – what a game he played.

“This competition is very good to give players this chance. Jahmai was exceptional at centre-half in the minutes he played.

“James McAtee – what a game he had – and Nico and Jacob played really well.

“I’m really pleased with what I’ve seen – really pleased. 90 minutes, so composed against a team that is so, so dangerous.”

In terms of injuries, the manager is playing a waiting game with Manuel Akanji and Savinho.

Akanji was unable to start the game, despite being named in the first XI while the Brazilian was stretchered off in the second half.

Of his other absentees, Guardiola said he didn’t expect to see Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne or Jack Grealish before the next international break.

“We’ll see tomorrow,” he said of his latest injury issues.

“We are in real difficulty because the guys who finish had some problems but we will see how they recover.

“I think when we are in trouble, because in nine years I never had this situation with many injuries for many reasons, in this situation, the players step forward more than ever in all they try to do.

“We have a short time for recovery this week. We have 13 outfield players.”

“He had a knock in the 18-yard box but we will see tomorrow what happened,” he added on Savinho.

“We have to see if it was just a knock or something else. It was on the bone, so hopefully nothing dangerous, but we will have to see tomorrow.

“Our captain is injured. I don’t think he or Kevin will be back until after the international break. Jack Grealish as well.

“It’s tough. Akanji felt something in the muscular part of his body - he wanted to take a risk, but we said no, no risk.

“Ruben is struggling sometimes as well. It’s been getting more difficult game by game – maybe we will be all back together at some point.

“The guys who are here are fighting to be with us, 24 hours a day. I won’t forget this.”

With a last-minute change to the starting line-up after Manuel Akanji picked up a knock in the warm-up and Savinho substituted through injury during the match, City still managed to hold our own against Premier League rivals Spurs.

And we found ourselves unfortunate not to find the end product enough as we went out at the Round Four stage.

With a busy period of fixtures also on Guardiola‘s mind, the boss had to utilise his bench and Academy players throughout the 90 minutes.

This included Nico O’Reilly, Jacob Wright and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey - the latter making his senior debut at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

match report | spurs 2-1 city

And despite picking up our first defeat of the 2024/25 season, the boss was still incredibly impressed and proud of the way his team carried themselves.

“It was a good game,” began Guardiola.

“It was really tough in the transitions, but we played really, really good. But their first action, they scored.

“In general we played really good and I’m so proud. I really like the way we play.

“I don’t like to lose but I like to see the way we played with courage and the way we behave - I like it.”

The hosts took an early lead through Timo Werner who buried Dejan Kulusevski’s through ball from close range on five minutes.

Spurs doubled their lead part way through the first half despite City’s best efforts to get a foothold in the clash.

match report | spurs 2-1 city

Pape Matar Sarr’s ranged effort squeezed into the bottom right corner on 25 minutes as the Senegalese midfielder met a Kulusevski cutback.

City halved the deficit on the brink of half-time, Matheus Nunes‘s first-time finish at the back post a gentle reminder of the threat City posed.

And despite enjoying more chances in the second half, Pep Guardiola‘s side couldn’t produce the key final pass to find a second goal and as a result our Carabao Cup journey came to an end.

The young midfielder played the full 90 minutes and was one of six Academy graduates to give a good account of themselves in a tight defeat in north London.

Spurs got out of the blocks quickly, scoring through Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr in the first 25 minutes before Matheus Nunes pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.

Spurs 2-1 City | Match report

City dominated the ball for the second period against a more experienced Spurs team and could have levelled the scores on several occasions, with O’Reilly himself seeing a shot blocked on the line.

“It’s never nice losing,” he said.

“I thought we played well and for the majority of the game we were the better team in my opinion for the majority of the game.

“We were getting chance after chance and couldn’t take it but that’s for us to go back to the training pitch and next time hopefully it’ll go in.

“It was a good block so fair play to him and then I had a header at the end but I mistimed my jump.”

The 19-year-old, who has now played four times for Guardiola’s team, was keen to congratulate his team-mate Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on his senior debut.

Simpson-Pusey was a second half substitute and looked extremely comfortable slotting into the defence.

“He’s such a composed player on the ball and a solid defender. I’m really happy for him as well because he’s one of my close friends,” said O’Reilly.

Goals from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr put the hosts in control in this Round Four encounter in the capital.

Matheus Nunes produced a fine finish in first half stoppage time, raising hopes of a comeback by Pep Guardiola’s Blues but we couldn’t find a leveller in the second period to force penalties.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, there was a proud moment for Youth Cup-winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey who came on for his senior debut, joining fellow graduates Nico O’Reilly, James McAtee, Rico Lewis and Jacob Wright on the pitch in the second half.

Focus will now turn rapidly to the Premier League as we hit the road again to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

WHAT HAPPENED

In terms of omens, an injury to Manuel Akanji in the warm-up perhaps set the scene for this Carabao Cup Round Four defeat at Tottenham.

He was replaced by Ruben Dias in the starting XI but even our captain for the evening could do little to stop a strong scoring start for the hosts in the opening period.

City may have enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession here in the capital in that first 45 minutes but it was Tottenham who took their chances when they came.

Akanji’s injury ahead of kick-off was frustrating, especially at a time when Pep Guardiola has several stars in the treatment room already.

And the evening got worse when Timo Werner gave the hosts the lead on six minutes - finishing confidently at the back post as he got to a pinpoint Dejan Kulusevski cross ahead of Rico Lewis.

Pape Matar Sarr doubled Tottenham’s advantage on 25 minutes as the Senegalese midfielder met a Kulusevski cutback before unleashing a 20-yard effort that flew past Stefan Ortega Moreno.

Ilkay Gundogan tried to reduce arrears just past the half hour mark but his fizzing free-kick from the left channel didn’t dip enough to trouble Guglielmo Vicario in the Tottenham goal.

Savinho showed his pace and grace on the left wing and played in a delicious ball that looked destined to find the foot of an onrushing Phil Foden but it sadly slipped past the England forward and away from danger.

The Brazilian’s curling strike from the right channel flew past Vicario’s post on 39 minutes as his effort raised anxiety levels for the hosts.

Those stress charts moved up another notch when Foden waited menacingly over a free-kick from outside the box just before the break but when it came time to strike, his chipped effort was too high to reduce the arrears.

The first step on a hoped-for road to recovery came in the final minute of added time in that first half as Matheus Nunes finished wonderfully from a classy cutback into the box by the lively Savinho.

There were changes for the visitors at the break as Dias and Gundogan were replaced by Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, with boss Guardiola looking to make an impact from the bench.

Tottenham came strongly out of the blocks again though, like they did in the first period, and Ortega Moreno had to be at his alert best to dive and keep out a powerful Brennan Johnson drive from the right channel.

The home fans held their collective breaths as scorer Werner raced through on goal looking for his second of the night but after what seemed like an eternity, the 28-year-old German hammered his effort over the bar on 51 minutes.

Moments later, Kulusevski thought he’d scored when his angled stroke towards the far corner looked destined for the net but, again, Ortega Moreno showed his suppleness to claw it away.

There was another change for the visitors just before the hour mark as Bernardo entered the action in place of Foden.

And then agonisingly seconds later, Savinho fell to the floor in some discomfort, the silky-smooth winger eventually stretchered off and replaced by Jacob Wright after a period of treatment.

Wright came so close to levelling matters on 69 minutes when he sent a curling effort goalward but the fine effort just went past Vicario’s post.

The midfielder was joined on the pitch by Youth Cup-winning captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey for his senior debut on 73 minutes as Guardiola again showed he’s not afraid of blooding young talent from our flourishing Academy.

Tottenham could - and probably should have - extended their advantage on 83 minutes but Ortega Moreno denied Richarlison after a wayward throw-in from Gvardiol found the Brazilian forward one-on-one with the keeper.

Vicario was in no-man’s-land on 88 minutes as he failed to punch clear a corner and O’Reilly hammered goalwards only to see Yves Bissouma clear the effort off the line.

The fourth official held up the board to indicate six minutes of added time, much to the consternation of the home fans, but City couldn’t quite find that all-important equaliser, Wright going closest with a shot from outside the box which flew wide.

TEAM NEWS

TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario, Gray, Romero (C) (Davies 52’), Dragusin, van de Ven (Udogie 14’), Bentancur, Sarr (Bissouma 46’), Kulusevski, Johnson (Moore 88’), Solanke, Werner (Richarlison 69’)

Subs: Forster, Pedro Porro, Bergvall, Maddison

CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Stones, Dias (C) (Gvardiol 46’), Ake (Simpson-Pusey 74’), Gundogan (Kovacic 46’), McAtee, O’Reilly, Savinho (Wright 62’), Nunes, Foden (Bernardo 58’)

Subs: Ederson, Haaland, Alfa Ruprecht

MANAGER REACTION

Check back here later for the thoughts of Pep Guardiola.

PLAYER REACTION

We’ll be bringing you the thoughts of a first team player right here shortly.

WHAT IT MEANS

City’s involvement in the 2024/25 Carabao Cup is over as we now look to the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.

We may have exited this competition but the schedule is still jam-packed with a tough away game at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday followed by a midweek UCL encounter in Lisbon against Sporting on Tuesday.

WHAT NEXT

It’s back to Premier League action now for Pep Guardiola’s Blues.

City head to Bournemouth on Saturday for a 15:00 (UK) kick-off at the Vitality Stadium.

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Last time out there, Phil Foden‘s first-half strike proved enough to give City a hard-fought 1-0 win on our way to a history-making fourth Premier League title in a row.

O’Reilly, Stefan Ortega Moreno, John Stones, Nathan Ake, James McAtee and Ilkay Gundogan come in.

Meanwhile, Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland drop to the bench while Manuel Akanji misses out completely for the 20:15 (UK) kick-off in the capital as the Blues aim for progress into the quarter-final of the competition.

Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are all still absent as well as long-term absentees Oscar Bobb and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

Akanji was due to start but was injured in the warm-up, meaning Dias came in to captain the side.

TEAM NEWS

TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario; Gray, Romero (C), Dragusin, van de Ven; Bentancur, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Werner.

Subs: Forster, Pedro Porro, Davies, Udogie, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Moore, Richarlison.

CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Ake, Gundogan, McAtee, O’Reilly, Savinho, Nunes, Foden

Subs: Ederson, Kovacic, Haaland, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Wright, Simpson Pusey, Alfa Ruprecht

TACTICS

Stefan Ortega Moreno starts in goal and will be protected by a back four of Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake.

Nico O’Reilly and Ilkay Gundogan will aim to dominate the battle ground of midfield with James McAtee offering more attacking impetus to the champions.

Up top, Phil Foden, Savinho and Matheus Nunes will aim to do damage to the Tottenham backline.

WARM WELCOME FOR YOUNG BLUES

Pep Guardiola made it clear in his pre-match press conference that the Carabao Cup is a competition he takes incredibly seriously.

And the evidence is there for all to see - he’s won it four times since his arrival eight years ago which is the joint most of any manager in history!

But he also revealed that he always tends to use the early rounds – up to the semi-final - to rotate his players and bring in first teamers who haven’t played as much as others in the early weeks of the season.

This time around, though, it’s not been as straightforward for the boss with Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb and Rodri all out injured.

While he also stressed in his media briefing he didn’t want to throw in a host of young players because of the quality of our opponents, Tottenham – who come into this match fresh off a defeat and undoubtedly in the mood for victory, he’s had to look to the Academy to bolster tonight’s squad.

Promising midfielder Nico O’Reilly comes into the XI while winger Farid Alfa-Ruprecht (pictured below) and defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey enjoy their first involvement with the senior squad alongside midfield general Jacob Wright as the trio take their place on the bench.

Among the newcomers to the senior set-up, Simpson-Pusey is an 18-year-old calm, graceful and towering centre-back who has been at City since he was eight years old. He was captain of our all-conquering Youth Cup-winning team of 2023/24.

German winger Alfa-Ruprecht is lightning-quick, has mesmerizing skills and joined the club two years ago from Hamburg.

The manager has great faith in this flourishing production line within the CFA so while he’d love progress to the next round without looking to the youthful bench, he’ll have no issues giving Alfa-Ruprecht, Simpson-Pusey and Wright the necessary nod to do their stuff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

CUP JOY

We may not have won the Carabao Cup of late but it’s a competition we undoubtedly excel in - and one that Pep Guardiola has enjoyed huge joy in during eight years in the City hotseat.

The Blues are second on the all-time list of winners – only behind Liverpool - with eight victories across 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Of those, four have come under the stewardship of Guardiola – beating Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham in consecutive finals.

Indeed, Guardiola has won the most League Cups of any manager, a record he shares in esteemed company alongside Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson.

And an even closer inspection of the stats show that since the start of his first season in charge, under Guardiola, City have won more League Cup games than any other side (23) and scored more goals than any other team (68).

Our titanic Treble success of 2022/23 and crowning as History Makers in 2023/24 may not have included the Carabao Cup as we exited away at Southampton and Newcastle.

But they appear to be definite exceptions to the rule.

MATCH STATS

-This is the first League Cup meeting between Spurs and City since the 2021 final, won 1-0 by City at Wembley. Tottenham have won the other three games between the sides in the EFL Cup, however, in 1992 (1-0), 2003 (3-1) and 2007 (2-0).

-After failing to score in each of our first five away games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between 2019 and 2023, City have won our last two there without conceding. City last won three away games in a row against Spurs in August 1974.

-Tottenham Hotspur have been eliminated in their last three League Cup ties against fellow Premier League sides, going out to Chelsea in 2021/22, Nottingham Forest in 2022/23 and Fulham in 2023/24.

-City have failed to score in our last three away League Cup games (D1 L2), losing each of our last two. We haven’t lost three away games in a row in the competition since August 1997.

Kick-off is set for 19:30 (UK) on Friday 8 November as City look to maintain our unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign.

We currently sit top of both the WSL table and our Champions League group, but Spurs won’t be making the journey north to simply make up the numbers.

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It promises to be a thrilling evening of WSL entertainment, with tickets still available to purchase here.

But the action isn’t just reserved to the pitch, with plenty of exciting activities on show before and after the game around the Etihad Stadium.

An exciting way to kick the evening off, with live music, player arrivals and plenty of prizes.

Our Blue Carpet Experience takes place outside The Colin Bell Stand entrance and includes our very own unique team arrival, with Gareth Taylor’s side expected around 90 minutes prior to kick-off.

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The Bonfire Themed show is aimed at our family audience. If the little ones want to see their heroes in person and get their face painted for free, then this is the best place to be! Prizes and giveaways will also be up for grabs, including the chance to:

Be a mascot on the pitch at the match with a free full kit given away too

Be on the team photo on the pitch at the match

Be fan of the match and high five all the players off the bus

Be our special “Blue Button” fan – who will start the match!!

Be selected to lead the team off the bus and into the stadium when they arrive at the Blue Carpet

VOTE FOR YOUR ETIHAD PLAYER OF THE MONTH

We also have live music, performers and entertainment with our presenting team, as well as exclusive guests, all shown on our 2 x jumbo screens, so everyone has a view!

Don’t miss this part of our match day and get up close to our players as they arrive off the team bus!

On the other side of the stadium, fans will also have the chance to win some amazing prizes by East Reception, where Barclays have their own activities taking place. Be sure to pay it a visit before making your way into the Stadium!

Stadium gates open two hours before kick-off, with our pre-match entertainment inside the ground getting under way after the Blue Carpet Experience finishes.

Keep your eyes peeled for another T-Shirt giveaway in the Stadium, this time from the Moonies’ Slingshot, before the team news is released on our social channels and the official Man City app at 18:30!

Both sets of teams will make their way out for the pre-match warm-ups, accompanied by an incredible DJ set from our stage inside the stadium.

The Etihad’s big screen will also come into play, with both a Bonfire Night Themed Dance and “Sparkler” Cam ready to light up the big screen with your help!

At 19:00, our usual free interactive quiz will also take place. Make sure to get involved with instructions distributed on gameday to be in with a chance of winning some more incredible prizes!

All the exciting build-up will reach its crescendo at around 19:20 when a bonfire themed light and fireworks show gets under way at the Etihad, so make sure you’re in your seats ready to enjoy!

The teams will then make their way out onto the pitch ready for kick-off, with selected at the match fans also coming out holding the Manchester City Crest Banner.

The Last Post will then be performed in the Stadium ahead of kick-off as part of the Club’s remembrance commemorations, before the action gets under way.

Half-Time

The activities continue at the break, with a live music performance taking place inside the Stadium on our stage, entertaining you as you digest the first half action.

Elsewhere, a bonfire themed on-pitch competition will also take place for the chance to win a family ticket to January’s Manchester Derby in hospitality!

Full-Time

After the final whistle, autograph alley will still take place pitchside as per our usual Joie Stadium fixtures.

Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set for 20:15 (UK) as the Blues aim to maintain our unbeaten start to the season in all competitions.

Standing in our way are a Spurs side desperate to get back to winning ways after a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Ange Postecoglou’s side earned their place in the Round of 16 with a late turnaround at Coventry City, while our own Carabao Cup journey began with a 2-1 win over Watford at the Etihad Stadium.

SPURS v CITY | MATCH PREVIEW

Five former Academy players started for City in that September win, with 16-year-old defender Kaden Braithwaite also handed a senior debut.

Several of our exciting young talents - including Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Jacob Wright and Nico O’Reilly, were pictured leaving the CFA today ahead of our clash with Spurs and will be keen to make their mark should they get the nod from Pep Guardiola.

As always, entire team were dressed to impress thanks to CP Comany, our official fashionwear partner, as they set sights on London.

The City boss wants to keep his squad fresh but rotation is difficult with Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne likely to be unavailable for the fourth-round tie along with long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

His need to protect the squad is exacerbated by a tough run of away fixtures with trips to Bournemouth and Brighton in the Premier League sandwiched by a Champions League clash against Sporting CP in Portugal.

The 16-year-old defender Kaden Braithwaite impressed on his debut in the third round victory over Championship side Watford at the Etihad.

But Guardiola says he needs to be careful with young players for the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 20:15 (UK) with Ange Postecoglu’s side looking for a response from their defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

SPURS V CITY | MATCH PREVIEW

“There is someone,” Pep said when asked about Academy players. “But we play against Spurs when they are coming from a defeat.

“I know what happened, mentally and for the manager and the players playing against City, sorry to tell you again, four Premier League titles in a row, I know they will be at their best.

“The Carabao Cup, also, we won four times in a row. Always, I use the first rounds to play the guys who didn’t play maybe regularly.

“But now we have a problem. We have a lot of injured players. I cannot take as much, but I don’t want to put that much pressure on the young, young players to be in this stage against this opponent for the way they play.

“That’s why I have to make a mix for the players. Split minutes. We will arrive home at 2am or 3am on Wednesday night and Friday we have to travel to Bournemouth.

“It’s a really intense game, the way they play and the way they are, that’s why we have to try and think about it and keep one eye on that.

“And after travel to Lisbon, the recovery will be so difficult this time. That’s why you have to take a look at how the players come back and today in training, how fresh [they are] and try to minimise the mistakes in the selection.”