Manchester Metropolis’s troubles from final season have been uncovered as soon as extra in a humbling 2-0 house defeat to Tottenham on Saturday that raised questions over their quest to regain the Premier League title.
Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners simply earlier than half-time as Spurs went prime of the desk, making it an ideal begin for Thomas Frank after two league video games in cost.
“Extraordinarily pleased with the gamers, exceptionally good efficiency,” stated Frank.
“The mentality is the important thing factor. We want this mentality to win video games like this.”
Metropolis’s run of 4 consecutive titles got here to a spectacular finish final season as they completed a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.
A 4-0 thrashing of Wolves on the opening weekend of the marketing campaign confirmed glimpses of a new-look Metropolis again to their finest.
Nonetheless, a collection of defensive points stay unresolved, whereas supervisor Pep Guardiola should determine on who can be his primary goalkeeper going ahead after a day to neglect for James Trafford.
“We missed the easy issues,” lamented Guardiola.
“In fact we now have to enhance, however I stated the identical after Wolves.”
Trafford retained his place in purpose regardless of the return to health of Ederson.
The Brazilian is reportedly on the verge of becoming a member of Turkish giants Galatasaray, which might release Metropolis to make a transfer for out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Metropolis’s failure to get these offers executed earlier than the ultimate week of the switch window got here again to hang-out them in a well-known story for Guardiola’s males in opposition to Tottenham.
Within the final 13 Premier League conferences between the edges, Metropolis have received simply 4 regardless of a number of adjustments of administration at Spurs in that point.
Metropolis’s excessive line uncovered
Frank is the newest man within the Tottenham dug out and has made a extremely spectacular begin.
Spurs have been minutes away from beating PSG within the UEFA Tremendous Cup, earlier than shedding on penalties, and have taken most factors from their opening two Premier League video games with out conceding.
Metropolis’s excessive line was simply uncovered in an embarrassing early exit from the Membership World Cup to Saudi facet Al-Hilal final month and is a matter Guardiola nonetheless has to resolve.
Tottenham took the lead on 35 minutes when Mohammed Kudus fed Richarlison and he squared for Johnson to energy previous Trafford.
An offside flag briefly halted Spurs’ pleasure till a VAR overview confirmed the slipping Ruben Dias had performed Richarlison onside.
Metropolis then utterly misplaced their composure for the interval earlier than half-time.
Trafford was lucky to keep away from being punished after dashing outdoors his field to dam from Kudus along with his arm.
However the 22-year-old then endured a second which could value him the prospect to be Guardiola’s primary this season.
Trafford’s tried go to Nico Gonzalez inside his personal field was intercepted by Pape Mate Sarr and though the goalkeeper recovered to disclaim Richarlison, Palhinha smashed house the rebound.
Erling Haaland had the prospect to cut back Metropolis’s arrears in first-half stoppage time, however headed over to sum up a troublesome afternoon for the Norwegian.
Spurs let a two-goal lead slip late on in opposition to PSG in Frank’s first recreation in cost, however hardly ever appeared in peril of struggling an analogous destiny.
Haaland wasted Metropolis’s different large alternative to realize a foothold when he overhit a go to Rayan Cherki with simply Guglielmo Vicario to beat.
However Metropolis fell to defeat with a whimper and will have been additional punished on the counter-attack when Trafford made good saves to disclaim Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert in stoppage time.
