Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has talked up Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier after yesterday’s League Cup final in Football London.
Aurier actually gave away the decisive free-kick, which Aymeric Laporte scored from to break Tottenham hearts.
Raheem Sterling had caused all sorts of problems to the Ivorian throughout the game.
And Guardiola feels Sterling’s performance was so good because he hurt a defender of Aurier’s quality.
“Raheem was amazing,” he said.
“He showed the opponent that we were here to win the game. ‘Not easy because Aurier is so good and fast. Tottenham were so good at blocking shots and stopping the space and Mourinho is so good at that.”
Aurier may have pace on his side, but he is a player whose future at Tottenham is surely uncertain.
There is a widespread belief that Aurier has improved this term, but he simply makes too many rash decisions to be relied upon.
Once again Aurier’s desperation caused him to make a needless foul, when Sterling appeared to be going nowhere, and it cost Spurs.
Of course, Tottenham should have defended the cross better, but City should never have had the opportunity to put the ball into the box.
And signing a new right-back is likely to be a priority for Tottenham’s next manager, whoever that may be, in the summer.
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