Manchester City in the Champions League: Pep Guardiola's curse

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When the Tottenham fans presented their choreography on the gigantic south grandstand, Jamie Carragher rose from his seat and pulled out the smartphone. Once he had been a long-time English national player, he had a lot in his career. But this seemed to be something special even to him.

The Spurs' second home game at their new, around a billion expensive stadium was the quarter-final first leg in the Champions League against Manchester City, and the mood was bombastic. As the footballers lined up on the grass just before the kickoff, some looked around in wonderment, instead of watching the camera cool as usual during the anthem.

Could this stadium even win the game for the Spurs?

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Well, the game did indeed go to the hosts, who won 1-0. But that was not the atmosphere. But also at the orientation of Pep Guardiola.

Manchester's coach is considered by many to be the best in his field. Only in the premier class was the last rare. Since 2011, Guardiola has won in away quarter and semi-finals of the Champions League no away game.

Pep Guardiola's last win in a CL final-final or semi-final away leg was in 2011, when Phil Foden was at junior school.

Back in 2011, Guardiola also took the title for the second and final time in the premier class. Even if he did not train a club for a year, that's a surprisingly long time. Maybe this thinness has changed Guardiola.

At Tottenham Stadium, the 90 minutes went as planned by Spurs coach Maurico Pochettino. His team played many long balls and sought even more duels. In Harry Kane Pochettino had the ideal target player. The striker was a starting point for passes in the depths, which he then claimed and forwarded.

Guardiola got involved in the battle. In Fernandinho and Ilkay Gündogan he put on two sixs in the defensive midfield, usually plays there in City only one. It is more important to seek freedom between the defensive and midfield of the opponent and make themselves playable there - actually.

City worked football

The double six defended, she even did when she was in possession. Fernandinho and Gündogan usually kept their low position. "We wanted to be a bit more stable," said Guardiola afterwards, Tottenham's direct game was just dangerous: "One or two passes and they kill you."

City worked football. After all, that worked.

The winger Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez sprinted for ball losses far in the direction of defense, again and again. The team defended together, but it did that deeper than usual, and because the few offensive players were constantly helping out back, lacked after ball winning the attack stations forward.

Although it was still almost a goal succeeded when Sergio Agüero failed to video proof of the penalty spot (13th Minute). But Manchester played for a 0-0. Only in the second half, the guests controlled the game better; The Spurs seemed to lose the thread, probably because of an apparently severe Kane injury, which even struck the mood, which did not quite electrify. Then suddenly the winner fell through Son Heung-min (78.). What a punch line.

In the league Manchester won the last three duels against the Spurs

The question remains why Guardiola does not play in the Champions League away as Guardiola. In the league matches with Tottenham the Spurs players had been the same. City won the past three duels, goal difference: 8: 2.

Maybe negative running and the careful style reinforce each other. Because Guardiola does not win away, he relies on more defense, which is why he does not win.

In any case, fired the possible out of the sometimes sharp criticism, the Guardiola sometimes counter. He would be overrated, the players would win, not the coach, it says. And when it comes down to it, in the premier class, choose the wrong tactics and lineup. In Tottenham Fabian Delph was in the starting XI; Kevin de Bruyne or Leroy Sané stayed out until just before the final whistle.

Kanes failure is an advantage for the second leg

It is rather wrong to take the Champions League as a benchmark for how successful a coach works. With the Bayern Guardiola dominated the Bundesliga as never before and after. In England, his team reached 100 points last season, which had never succeeded a first division. There, where not a missed penalty decide on title, Guardiola wins.

After the Spurs game Guardiola did not criticize, he praised. His team had delivered an "incredible game," he said, and actually meant: incredibly good. The team was brilliant, barely allowed any chances. And he hinted that he was going to play a lot more offensive in the second leg on April 17th. "We know what we have to do," he said, "scoring goals." What he did not say was that the spurs would be much easier to defend with Kane's impending failure.

Tottenham coach Pochettino was asked late on Tuesday evening, which meant 1-0 for the return leg. "Manchester City remains favorite," he said, "not just advancing, but the title." What trainers are saying. Only: It is not completely absurd. Provided City finds its way back to itself.