Tottenham Hotspur hosted Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, looking to bounce back after their defeat to Crystal Palace in the league at the weekend.
With Manchester City unbeaten in all competitions this season, it was deemed as a tough challenge for Ange Postecoglou’s side. But with goals from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr, they sealed a 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side.
Tottenham will now progress into the next round of the competition and will face Manchester United in the quarter finals.
After coming back from a disappointing loss on Sunday at Selhurst Park, Tottenham grabbing the pass into the next round of the Carabao Cup was very important for Postecoglou and his team.
“This team is growing all the time, you’re gonna stumble sometimes, we have but we’ve always bounced back. Disappointed as we were on Sunday, I had every confidence that we’d come back with a performance today,” Ange said to the media.
“We’re a side that is growing and I continue to see progress. We need to keep working at what we’re doing.”
“My last win is always my best win. I continue to see growth in this group of players and I want them to have these moments because I know how important it is to accelerate the growth of what we’re doing.”
Relief for Werner
Scoring in the first five minutes of the ninety, injected confidence into a Spurs team that seemed to lack that at the weekend, the goal was scored by Timo Werner, who, after a rocky start to the 24/25 campaign, seemed to have regained his confidence, providing energy and passion to his side.
“It should lift him. We’re kind of supporting him, but ultimately, with all these things, it’s down to him and his approach to things.
“He was good tonight. He was unlucky to maybe not get one or two more.
“With attacking players, obviously if they don’t score, they feel that anxiety a little bit. Hopefully tonight’s goal helps him with that.”
Injury concerns
Tottenham centre back Micky van de Ven was forced off due to injury in the 14th minute of the match. When speaking to the media Postecoglou said, “Micky felt something in his hamstring. I haven’t got the full update on him but he definitely felt something and we’ll see how he is.”
Postecoglou also added when speaking about injury concerns, “Cuti [Romero] was a bit tired. I contemplated changing him at half-time but after losing Micky as well I didn’t want to lose another centre-half.
“He said he felt ok but my gut was telling me there’s no point taking a risk as we had Benny [Davies] who could come on. Timo hasn’t played a lot so I felt it was more fatigue hopefully than anything else.”
With captain Heung-Min Son still a doubt for the weekend Ange Postecoglou will be hopeful for no further injuries to his squad.
When Postecoglou was asked about the next stage in the competition he exclaimed, “There’s still some decent teams in there.”
Tottenham will face Manchester United who entered the quarter final draw off the back of a 5-2 win over Premier League rivals Leicester, Tottenham will face United at home on the week commencing the 17th December, hoping to further progress in their bid to win a trophy this campaign.
