Graham Roberts criticises Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier despite Manchester City triumph

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Tottenham Hotspur stunned Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals, leaving Pep Guardiola dejected at the Etihad Stadium.

Graham Roberts was understandably thrilled with Tottenham Hotspur’s remarkable Champions League triumph over Manchester City on Wednesday night.

But he still found time to criticise Kieran Tripper for his role in a seven-goal blockbuster at the Etihad Stadium, while speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (18 April, 10:00am).

Spurs qualified for the semi-finals for the first time in their history at City’s expense and the circumstances could hardly have been more dramatic.

Raheem Sterling scored what looked like the winning goal in stoppage time, only for a VAR review to cut Pep Guardiola’s celebrations short with Sergio Aguero ruled to be offside in the build up.

As a result, a 4-3 defeat on the night was enough to put Tottenham through instead on away goals.

But, reflecting after the game, Roberts was keen to draw attention to the goal Sterling scored inside the first three minutes of the game, particularly after Tripper allowed the in-form forward to cut inside with ease and whip a shot into the bottom corner.

“I can’t believe what Trippier was doing, showing him inside on his right foot when (Sterling) is right footed,” said Roberts, who won the 1984 UEFA Cup with Spurs.

“He’s got to show him down the line.”

Trippier has endured a difficult season in North London and the Standard claimed recently that he and fellow right-back Serge Aurier had been put up for sale with Mauricio Pochettino identifying Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan Bissaka as a replacement.