Postecoglou made a baffling decision vs Man City that may have cost Tottenham the game
Ange Postecoglou faced multiple frustrations after Tottenham Hotspur’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City. The loss itself was a setback for a team that had built momentum with consecutive victories against Manchester United and Ipswich Town.
Instead of continuing their upward trajectory, Tottenham found themselves struggling to turn a dominant second-half performance into at least a share of the points.
With numerous opportunities created, Postecoglou would have expected his side to capitalize, but wastefulness in front of goal proved costly. The likes of Heung-min Son, Pape Matar Sarr, and Wilson Odobert failed to convert key chances, allowing Erling Haaland’s first-half strike to stand as the decisive moment in a high-intensity contest.
Postecoglou now has a challenging few days ahead as he dissects Tottenham’s inability to secure a result despite controlling large portions of the game.
The former Celtic manager has every reason to feel frustrated, as his side not only generated numerous chances but also enjoyed sustained periods of possession, forcing Manchester City into defensive spells.
However, the game’s early stages painted a different picture, with City dominating and exposing Tottenham’s vulnerabilities. One of the key tactical decisions that backfired was the selection of Pedro Porro, who endured a torrid night against Jeremy Doku.
Manchester City exploited Tottenham’s right flank, with Doku running riot against Porro from the opening whistle. The Belgian winger repeatedly found space, using his quick feet and blistering pace to create multiple opportunities.
On another night, he could have easily left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a hat-trick of assists, had Haaland and Savinho been more clinical with their finishing.
Given Doku’s recent performance against Trent Alexander-Arnold in City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, the decision to start Porro and task him with containing one of the world’s most dangerous dribblers seemed questionable.
A more defensively solid option, such as Djed Spence, could have provided the necessary resistance to limit Doku’s influence.
Spence has demonstrated his ability to handle elite wingers, most notably in Tottenham’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool, where he effectively nullified Mohamed Salah.
His disciplined defensive approach, which relies on jockeying opponents and maintaining positional awareness, contrasts sharply with Porro’s tendency to rush into challenges and leave himself exposed.
Porro’s struggles against tricky wingers have been evident throughout his time at Tottenham, dating back to his debut against Leicester City, where Harvey Barnes repeatedly exploited his defensive frailties.
Against Manchester City, the pattern continued, as Doku effortlessly glided past him, creating dangerous openings at will. Even without needing to beat Porro directly, Doku found himself with ample space and time to deliver the cross that led to Haaland’s match-winning goal.
Spence, who has been in excellent form and could be in line for an England call-up, might now emerge as the preferred right-back option.
His composure in defensive duels and ability to limit the impact of explosive wingers offer a level of security that Porro has struggled to provide this season.
While Porro’s attacking qualities remain valuable, his defensive inconsistencies have drawn criticism from Tottenham supporters, and Postecoglou now has compelling evidence to reconsider his full-back selection.
Eventually, Spence entered the match as a substitute, replacing Destiny Udogie and taking up an unfamiliar left-back role.
Despite operating out of position, he managed to contain Savinho more effectively than Udogie, adding further weight to the argument that he deserves a starting spot.
Statistical analysis of his performance reinforced this point, highlighting his ability to neutralize threats in one-on-one situations.
As Postecoglou evaluates his tactical decisions, Spence’s display provides a strong case for his inclusion in future starting lineups, particularly in matchups where defensive solidity is paramount.