Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must axe 4/10 Spurs star after “anonymous” display
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Manchester City, bringing an end to their three-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League. Erling Haaland’s first-half goal secured the victory for Pep Guardiola’s side, leaving Ange Postecoglou with another challenge as Spurs endured their 14th league defeat of the season.
The loss sees Tottenham sitting in 13th place with just 11 games remaining, making a turnaround seem almost impossible in what has been a difficult season for the North London club.
Over the past few weeks, Postecoglou has seen several key players return from injury, offering much-needed squad depth. However, he opted to rotate his squad for the clash against the reigning champions, and several players struggled to make an impact.
Brennan Johnson retained his place in the starting lineup after scoring twice against Ipswich Town but failed to replicate that performance. The Welsh winger registered only one shot on goal and completed just 50% of his attempted dribbles, managing to create only one chance in an ineffective display. Despite remaining on the pitch for the entire match, his lack of influence was evident.
Pedro Porro also earned a recall to the starting XI, but like Johnson, he failed to justify his selection. The 25-year-old struggled to contain Jeremy Doku and was physically outmatched by the Belgian winger on multiple occasions.
Offensively, he provided little threat, completing just one dribble throughout the game. These underwhelming performances contributed to Tottenham’s lack of attacking momentum, but one player’s struggles stood out the most.
January signing Kevin Danso has been a regular in the heart of Tottenham’s defense since his arrival from Lens, and he showcased his composure against City by completing 81 passes—more than any other player on the pitch.
However, another winter recruit, Mathys Tel, endured a night to forget. The 19-year-old forward started the game but struggled to make any meaningful impact before being substituted in the 66th minute.
Tel’s performance was marked by a lack of involvement, as he registered only 12 touches, fewer than Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who had 39.
He managed just four completed passes, failed to complete either of his two attempted dribbles, and lost 75% of his duels. His lack of presence in the attacking third made Tottenham’s offensive efforts even more ineffective, leading to his substitution for Dejan Kulusevski as Postecoglou searched for a way to salvage a result.
| Mathys Tel’s Performance vs. Manchester City | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 66 |
| Touches | 12 |
| Passes completed | 4/5 |
| Dribbles completed | 0/2 (0%) |
| Duels lost | 3/4 (75%) |
| Possession lost | 4x |
| Aerials won | 0/1 (0%) |
Tel’s struggles were reflected in his post-match rating, with journalist Dan Kilpatrick awarding him a disappointing 4/10. One analyst even described his performance as “anonymous,” highlighting the teenager’s failure to impose himself on the game.
With a crucial Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar on the horizon, Postecoglou may consider making changes to his lineup.
Tottenham’s European campaign represents their last realistic opportunity to secure silverware this season, making a positive result in the away leg essential. Given Tel’s struggles, Postecoglou may look for alternative options to lead the attack, hoping for a stronger performance as Spurs aim to keep their hopes of a trophy alive.