Tottenham fight for survival while Man City face a shocking reality
The Premier League also has its match of the round: Tottenham face Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a game that can change the course of the season for either. Two teams who started the season with big hopes, but have fallen considerably short of their mark. Injury-plagued Tottenham sit in 12th place on 33 points, and current champions Manchester City is 4th with 44 points, but also missing influential absentees.
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For Spurs, winning against a giant like City would give much-needed impetus to their campaign. For City, any defeat could prove terminal for their top-four dream and Champions League qualification next season.
Is Tottenham back on track, or is this just a flash in the pan?
Tottenham enters the match with two wins in a row, including a impressive one against Manchester United. But is this a real turn of fortunes, or merely a flash in the pan glimmer of hope amidst an otherwise lacklustre season?
Head coach Ange Postecoglou discussed the team's current position. While there were wins, he was quick to point out that there were also painful cup losses and a lot of work still needs to be done.
"The last few games have given us some encouragement, we've been able to re-vitalize the team. But we know we lost some important games, and lots of work is still to be done."
The question on everyone's mind is whether Tottenham has finally found its footing, or whether the recent wins were a product of softer opposition from which they could rebound. The City test will settle that definitively.
Injuries continue to be the bane of Spurs
One of Tottenham's biggest problems this season has been an abundance of injuries to key players. Ben Davies is still out, and Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke, and Micky van de Ven are all still being evaluated in advance of the City match.
The positives for Postecoglou are that these players are all getting on well and will be available to come back soon, especially with the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 encounter against AZ Alkmaar on March 6 looming.
For now, the team will likely be the same as the one which defeated Ipswich Town in their last game. That would see James Maddison and Pedro Porro return, and they will introduce a new flavor into the squad.
Postecoglou acknowledges the task of the game but believes Tottenham can match up: "City is a top-class team, they've got a great coach and top players. But we enjoy these types of games against them, it will be a great test for us."
Manchester City needs a response
While Tottenham, too, is failing to remain consistent, the position of Manchester City is critical. Guardiola's team comes into the game following their exit from the Champions League and an extremely tough defeat against Liverpool.
The reigning Premier League champions have not been great, and if they continue making more mistakes, they might ruin their chances of making it into the top four and securing a direct Champions League entry for the coming season.
Even though City haven't been dominant in the way they were at first, they still have world-class players and Guardiola is aware that Spurs will be tough, especially at home:
"They are an exceptional team with talented players. The pace they maintain, the high press, extraordinary runners in transitions⦠but of late, they've also introduced a lot of passing into the game. They are capable of that, especially when James Maddison plays."
The biggest concern for Guardiola heading into the match is Erling Haalandâs availability. The striker is still being evaluated, and the coach has yet to confirm if he will play.
"Heâs feeling better, but he missed the last two games. Weâll decide after training."
If Haaland is not available, it will be a significant blow to City, as they are very much dependent on his goal-scoring prowess. Without him, Guardiola will have to tinker with his attacking formation to ensure the team's attacking potency.
