Pep Guardiola has been quoted by the Manchester Evening News as saying that Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Lucas Moura always made his side “suffer”. Manchester City take on Tottenham at The Etihad on Saturday.
City take on Tottenham in a duel that has seen Spurs become somewhat of a bogey team for City in recent years. Since April 2019, Tottenham have won four of the nine times the two have gone head to head.
Indeed, Spurs won last time out – even without Kane. A front three of Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min saw Spurs beat City 1-0 on the opening day of the season under Nuno Espirito Santo, in his first game.
Three out of the last five games have been Tottenham wins and Antonio Conte needs to make it four from six – if they are to have any chance of keeping their top-four hopes alive. Guardiola discussed Kane and Lucas.
“This is the problem. The fact they’ve lost three times means they’ll be ready for tomorrow. To lose four times in a row is not easy, we suffer every time with Kane, Moura. They have a lot of quality,” Guardiola said.
“The patterns they do, what I saw yesterday and today, they realise. A manager arrives in the middle of the season changes things, playing every three days. You need time but there is no time, this club gave me time.”
Guardiola on Kane, Lucas: Can Tottenham beat Manchester City?
Without a doubt. Manchester City are in fine form but their recent form against Tottenham will be in the back of their minds. However, Spurs’ preparation ahead of City has hardly been ideal for the North London club.
Comments from Conte about the January window have put another negative feel on the club. But Eric Dier is back from injury and with him in the side, Spurs have a much better chance of keeping City at bay.
Perhaps, Conte’s comments could work in their favour. Taking the heat off the players after three straight losses might have given them the chance to work without pressure going into Saturday’s clash.
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