The Premier League rivals clash in the Champions League and domestically next week.
Tottenham Hotspur’s solid 1-0 win over Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final first leg came at a price as Harry Kane ended up suffering a potentially season-ending injury.
The Spurs talisman had attempted to block a Fabian Delph pass but he rolled his left ankle moments before the Citizens left-back followed through and connected with the striker’s ankle.
Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday that Kane suffered “significant lateral ligament” damage and, with five weeks left of the season, thought it was “going to be difficult” for the forward to play any further part in it (BBC Sport).
Man City defender Nicolas Otamendi, however, does not believe that Kane’s absence will be an advantage for Pep Guardiola’s charges when they face Tottenham twice in a row next week.
The veteran Argentine, who has been at the club since 2015, was asked by the Manchester Evening News if Kane’s absence will give Man City an advantage going into the double header.
His reply was: “I don’t think so. Obviously, he is an important player for them, but our mentality is focus on ourselves and try to make a good game.”
Otamendi also shrugged off criticism relating to Guardiola’s defensive approach to the game, adding: “Tottenham is a great team, they play really well. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. We always try to play our game, in the second half our game was ruined when they scored in their only shot on target.”
Before next week’s double header, Spurs host Huddersfield Town at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday and Man City travel to Crystal Palace the following day.
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