Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side were not clinical enough in their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday but insisted he was “delighted” with the attacking options in his squad.
A second-half goal from Son Heung-min meant reigning champions City fell to a surprise defeat as they began the defence of their league crown with an under-par display. City and Guardiola have now lost all four of their games at Tottenham’s new stadium without scoring, including three in the Premier League.
“In general, we showed a good spirit and good intention and we arrived in the final third many times, but we could not be clinical enough. Son scores and we lose,” Guardiola said.
“We have the same players as last season. I’m so delighted with the same guys who scored a lot of goals. We are good enough to create chances and score goals — we will do it.
“We are one against one a lot. But in the end we could not dribble, shoot and score goals. But the way we started showed me the team is there.”
Grealish praise
City’s new £100 million ($138.7 million) signing Jack Grealish sparkled briefly on his debut but faded along with his teammates. Even with an array of attacking threats on the pitch and £340 million worth of talent sitting on the bench, City were listless and lacking a cutting edge.
If anything, the display will make the signing of Tottenham’s absent striker Harry Kane even more pressing for the City hierarchy — whatever the cost now that Sergio Aguero is no longer an option for Guardiola.
Guardiola would not get drawn into the Kane debate, but praised new boy Grealish.
“He was excellent. He played with a personality and created chances. Unfortunately we could not win for him for his debut but he played really well,” the Spaniard said.
“In terms of give me the ball he doesn’t lose the ball, he is so dangerous close to the box.”
City became only the third champions in the Premier League era to lose their first game of the new campaign and some of their players looked off the pace while Kevin De Bruyne was left on the bench until late on.
“Kevin De Bruyne has not done one full training session, he needs to train. He will need time to play 90 minutes,” Guardiola said. “We are the same people that won the Premier League and we make very good things and it’s normal.”
Proud Nuno
New Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo spoke of his pride in his team as his reign began with a victory.
The build-up to Nuno’s first campaign in north London has been clouded by Kane’s potential move. But when the final whistle rang out, the capacity crowd sang Nuno’s name and chanted: “Are you watching Harry Kane?”
Nuno set up his Tottenham side to defend calmly and counter-attack and it was from one devastating link-up between Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min that Son scored the 55th-minute winner.
Kane’s usual accomplice Son, who has just signed a new four-year contract, carried the attack superbly.
“It was good I think. The atmosphere was special off the hard work of the boys. They make any crowd proud when they work so hard,” Espirito Santo said.
