On 85 minutes, with the title on the line, Son Heung-Min bore down on goal after a Manuel Akanji slip. The Korean is statistically the best finisher in the Premier League, so this might have been the miracle Arsenal needed. Ederson wasn’t even on the pitch. Pep Guardiola admitted that all of Son’s previous goals against Manchester City, so many of them from similar situations to this, were running through his head. He couldn’t stay on his feet. Guardiola theatrically fell backwards, and later said that by then he knew the meaning of Sir Alex Ferguson’s “squeaky bum time”.
Stefan Ortega, the substitute goalkeeper, stood his ground. The miracle was instead that Son missed. He hit the ball straight at Ortega’s firmly planted leg.
Gasps turned to cheers at the City end. Spurs fans were feeling a mix of different emotions.
It was for that very reason, however, that Ange Postecoglou was clear in his own feelings. He was furious, in a press conference where he called into question so much about the modern Spurs. It was reminiscent of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, if delivered in Postecoglou’s own way. And that was cutting enough.
“I think the last 48 hours have revealed a fair bit to me… the foundations are fairly fragile, mate,” he said.
Maybe the most conspicuous line, however, was the following. “I probably misread the situation as to what I think is important in your endeavour to become a winning team, but that’s OK. That’s why I’m here.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 16, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 16, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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