Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in North London yesterday. Erling Haaland scored the only goal in the 12th minute, and Spurs could do nothing to turn the game around.
City ran Tottenham ragged in the first half, with Jeremy Doku and Savinho doing damage on the flanks. Spurs did not muster a proper effort until the stroke of half-time when defender Kevin Danso worried Ederson with a header.
Tottenham turned the tide in the second half, coming close through Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel. The latter had only Ederson to beat but fluffed his lines.
Surprisingly, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou left Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Djed Spence on the bench for the game but had to call on the trio for help with the game ebbing out of their reach.
They added some impetus for Spurs, and Son came close to a leveller late, but City escaped and held on to victory.
Many Tottenham fans were confused as to why the boss left their talisman (Son), arguably their best player this season (Kulusevski), and surely the most improved (Spence) on the bench for such a critical game.
Postecoglou explained his decision, saying (via the BBC), “It was about trying to get our squad up and running again. Guys like Destiny (Udogie) and Wilson (Odobert) needed game time. Sonny, Djed and Kulusevski have played a lot of football. They came on and made an impact.”
The decision to rest Son, Kulusevski, and Spence may have been unpopular, but it was ultimately the right call. Injuries have plagued Tottenham due to player overload, and the manager wanted to avoid more setbacks.
While Spurs struggled against Man City, the reality is that fatigue has already taken its toll on the squad. Son and Kulusevski, in particular, have been ever-present this season, carrying much of the attacking burden.
Spence has played 14 of Tottenham’s last 16 games. Postecoglou’s decision was not about weakening his team but ensuring they remain competitive for the remainder of the season.
Spurs fans may have wanted an all-out approach against City, but a manager must think beyond just 90 minutes. That is the kind of leadership Tottenham need.