Spurs Earned Hard-Fought Draw Against Manchester City Amidst Injury Crisis

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed confidence that his side can compete with the best in the Premier League this season, even amidst an injury crisis. Spurs’ impressive 3-3 draw with champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday highlighted their resilience, despite missing 11 first-team players.

The match saw Spurs take the lead early with Heung-min Son’s breakaway goal, before an unfortunate own goal from Son allowed City to equalise just minutes later. Phil Foden and Jack Grealish put City ahead twice, but Spurs battled back, first with a goal from Giovani Lo Celso and then a last-minute header from Dejan Kulusevski.

Postecoglou praised his side for their never-say-die attitude, insisting that their performance was proof they can “battle with the best” once their key players return to full fitness. He said: “We’re going through a tough time, and how you deal with tough times is just as important as results. We’ve fallen short at times, but considering the personnel out, it’s understandable. If we can get through this period, we’ll be in a good position and with our players back, I’m confident we can build momentum.”

Despite the injuries, Postecoglou remained adamant that his team should not compromise their playing style. He added, “If we get through this tough period, stay true to our football, we’ll come out of it stronger. Today, the players proved to themselves that they have the character and belief to fight through adversity.”

While Postecoglou acknowledged that City could have overwhelmed them in the first half, he felt Spurs were much improved after the break. The introduction of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Bryan Gil added solidity in midfield, and Postecoglou was pleased with how his team made life difficult for the defending champions. “We made it uncomfortable for City in the second half. They never got full control, and we scored three quality goals. I was so pleased the players got the reward for their effort.”

Postecoglou singled out Hojbjerg’s influence, stating, “His experience was key. We passed with more conviction and didn’t second-guess ourselves like we did in the first half.”