How Tottenham Hotspur can upend Manchester City

Defence has to play out of their skin

Most of the pressure will fall on Tottenham’s back four. Excessively vulnerable of late, Tottenham’s rearguard will have to play out of their skin to hold City at bay. Keeping a clean sheet might be the only way Tottenham can take all three points from the Etihad. If Spurs concede more than one goal, don’t expect them to come away from Manchester with anything.

While the back four will shoulder most of the responsibility, Tottenham has to defend brilliantly as a collective. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will have to defend as tenaciously as a rabid pit bull, while maintaining composure in possession. Tanguy needs to dominate the ball by keeping possession and drawing fouls to provide his team with the required respite. And Bergwijn, if he starts, has to track back and defend stoutly, something we’ve come to expect from the Dutchman’s role in Jose’s tactics.

Tottenham’s lethal counter

Son Heung-Min, who has enjoyed admirable success against City in the past, must be at his sharpest. The South Korean needs to be positive in possession, driving at City’s rearguard with pace, purpose and trickery. He should have the beating of João Cancelo, who will push forward to join City’s attack whenever possible. We saw yet more evidence of Son and Kane’s telepathic connection when the latter headed home from close range thanks to the Korean’s pinpoint cross during Wednesday’s defeat to Everton.

Jose is relying on his dynamic duo — who have combined for 26 of Spurs’ 36 top flight goals — to knick one on a blistering odd-man attack.

More than anything, Tottenham supporters just want to see their team compete with the very best. Spurs currently cannot match City’s individual talent at every position, but Jose’s side have more than enough quality — thanks to a handful of world-class players — to upstage the runaway league leaders. Saying it and proving it, though, are entirely different matters.