Tottenham’s Heung-min Son plots a smash and grab raid to stop Manchester City juggernaut

City slicker | Son has never lost to Manchester City with Spurs, winning three times and drawing once
Clive Rose/Getty Images
Jonathan Hunn15 December 2017

How do you beat a team already hailed as one of the best in Premier League history? That is the question for Tottenham ahead of their match at Manchester City on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders set an all-time Football League record after winning their 15th successive top-flight game, at Swansea on Wednesday. In doing so, they surpassed the previous best start to a season of 15 wins and one draw, set by Tottenham in 1960-61.

If they win again on Saturday, they will become the first team since 1953 to beat Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs before the New Year in the same season.

It is all a bit daunting for Spurs and the question of how to play at Etihad Stadium is of particular relevance after United’s attempt to ‘park the bus’ failed in a 2-1 defeat by City last weekend. Mauricio Pochettino is fond of saying he thinks only about his own team but the Spurs coach will have considered the best way to stop a side that have stunned, swamped and suffocated opponents, scoring 15 more goals than anyone else in the Premier League and conceding the joint fewest.

Spurs have form at upsetting the odds, however, and are taking heart from the 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in October. On that night, they abandoned Pochettino’s high-line and defended deep and doggedly, hitting the Spaniards with a succession of counter-attacks.

"We showed against Real that we’re good on the counter-attack and we can use it when we play City"

&#13; <p>Heung-min Son</p>&#13;

A similar approach yielded big victories against Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool at Wembley, with Spurs having around 35 per cent possession in all three games.

Pochettino has insisted his team were “forced” to play more reactively but allowing City to have the ball and breaking quickly could be a way to win tomorrow.

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Heung-min Son, who scored on the break against Dortmund and Liverpool, would be crucial to that approach, particularly given his form and previous record against City. Son (left) scored the equaliser in Spurs’ undeserved 2-2 draw at the Etihad last season and, in the absence of Harry Kane, led the line superbly as Spurs ended Guardiola’s 11-game unbeaten start in English football with a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane in October 2016.

“It’s going to be different because they’re going to attack as well, not have 11 players defending like when we play against other teams,” Son said.

“If teams stay deep, we need to find some other options but against Real Madrid, Dortmund and Liverpool we showed we’re good on the counter-attack as well. We can use the counterattack [against Man City].”

The big problem with that approach is that City are better than Dortmund, Liverpool and even Real. Allowing them to have the ball could invite problems, particularly given the ability of Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva to pick even the most stubborn locks.

Spurs’ other option is to take the game to City, just as they did in the 3-1 win against Real last month. Without the injured John Stones, City are less effective at building from the back, while Fabian Delph - a midfielder converted to left-back - and Kyle Walker, the £50million summer signing from Spurs, are better going forward than defensively. When Chelsea looked unstoppable last season, Spurs imposed their high-intensity pressing game on their rivals and halted a 13-match winning streak. They did similar against City in October last year. Forcing their hosts to be the ones to adapt will be difficult but Pochettino’s Spurs have shown it is not impossible.

“If we just play our game, we have a great chance,” said Son. “In the Premier League no game is easy. Of course, City are very, very strong this season but we go to Manchester not to drop some points. We need to believe in ourselves, go there and just enjoy the game. It’s going to be fun.”

Spurs have won more away Premier League games at City (10) than they have at any other club.

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Pochettino’s XI will hold clues to how he intends to approach the game and recalls for Mousa Dembele, Ben Davies and former City trainee Kieran Trippier will likely indicate Spurs intend to have their fair share of possession. After six goals in his last seven starts, Son is certain to be in the XI and the South Korea international thrives on the pressure of big games.

“It will be the best game in the Premier League - everyone watching and everyone expecting a good game,” he said. “I enjoy everyone watching me. As a player you need to prove yourself in this situation. Sometimes the pressure makes me stronger.

“I am never happy with my performances,” Son added, in an interview with ESPN Brasil. “I always want to prove more things. I’m always hungry. I can be better always. I’m just thinking positively. The last three games have been very good. I’m just looking forward to more points [at City].”

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