Man City player ratings vs Tottenham

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City faced Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, fielding a squad that mixed promising youth with experienced talent.

With the Premier League in full swing and injuries affecting key players, Guardiola opted to rotate his squad heavily, aiming to give his regular starters a break while providing valuable minutes to some lesser-seen names.

However, the combination struggled to handle the intensity of Tottenham’s attack, ultimately suffering a defeat in north London with the score Totteham 2-1 Man City.

Despite an improved showing in the second half in this Totteham vs Man City EFL Cup game, City fell behind early as Spurs capitalised on their high press and sharp counter-attacks.

Tottenham’s pace and energy overwhelmed City’s backline, exposing the gaps left by Guardiola’s lineup adjustments.

Though City managed to pull one back, it was not enough to prevent their EFL Cup exit. Here are the Man City player ratings vs Tottenham in their 2-1 loss in the EFL Cup round of 16.

Man City player ratings vs Tottenham - EFL Cup (4-1-4-1)

Man City starting XI vs Tottenham

Goalkeeper: Stefan Ortega (4/10)

Ortega will likely face some criticism for allowing Pape Matar Sarr’s goal at his near post, although he appeared slightly unsighted, and the shot had considerable power. In the second half, he made a few solid saves to keep City in the contest.

Right Back: Rico Lewis (3/10)

Struggled to contain Timo Werner, who consistently found joy attacking down his side. Fortunately for Lewis, Werner’s finishing was not clinical, sparing the young full-back further blushes.

Centre Back: John Stones (4/10)

Demonstrated his usual calmness in possession, showing composure under Tottenham’s high press. However, he was tested by Spurs’ pace in transition, which occasionally left him stretched.

Centre Back: Ruben Dias (5/10)

Initially a late inclusion after Manuel Akanji’s withdrawal, Dias was City’s most stable defender in the first half. He held his own until he was substituted at half-time for Josko Gvardiol.

Left Back: Nathan Ake (4/10)

Caught out of position for Tottenham’s opening goal, Ake initially played at left-back but shifted to centre-back in the second half. His performance remained steady until he was substituted late in the game.

Defensive Midfielder: Ilkay Gundogan (4/10)

The experienced German midfielder struggled in a holding role, frequently losing track of Tottenham’s runners. Guardiola opted to replace him with Mateo Kovacic for the second half.

Left Midfielder: Matheus Nunes (6/10)

Nunes was arguably City’s standout player, taking advantage of the space left by young Tottenham right-back Archie Gray. His persistent runs paid off with a well-taken goal, giving City a lifeline before halftime.

Attacking Midfielder: James McAtee (4/10)

McAtee and Nunes occasionally crowded each other out on the left, limiting space and rhythm. Although he showed flashes of skill, he found himself outmatched physically by Tottenham’s midfield.

Attacking Midfielder: Nico O’Reilly (5/10)

The most adventurous of City’s midfield trio, O'Reilly displayed glimpses of creativity and carried the ball forward well. He was close to scoring but was denied by Yves Bissouma’s timely goal-line clearance.

Right Midfielder: Savinho (6/10)

After a quiet start, Savinho became more involved, especially following City’s two-goal deficit. He effectively took on defenders, including Destiny Udogie, and provided a clever cross that led to City’s goal before his night was cut short by injury.

Centre Forward: Phil Foden (3/10)

Foden, filling in a striker role, appeared out of sorts and struggled to link up with his wingers. He was replaced by Bernardo Silva early in the second half.

Man City substitutes vs Tottenham

Mateo Kovacic (5/10) - Ilkay Gundogan 46’

Added some mobility in the defensive midfield area but struggled to fully contain Tottenham’s counters.

Josko Gvardiol (4/10) - Ruben Dias 46’

Came on at halftime to add freshness and pace to City’s defence, though he was unable to prevent Spurs’ continued advances.

Bernardo Silva (5/10) - Phil Foden 58’

Injected energy into City’s attack and was their most effective player in the final third, although his impact was reduced after Richarlison’s introduction added cover for Spurs.

Jacob Wright (5/10) - Savinho 63’

Brought on for Savinho, Wright showed promise in his brief appearance, coming close to scoring with an early effort.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (5/10) - Nathan Ake 74’

The young debutant came on for the last 17 minutes and gave a solid account of himself.

Man City manager vs Tottenham

Pep Guardiola (4/10)

Guardiola’s strategy prioritised resting key players ahead of the international break. His mix of youth and experience, however, left City vulnerable against an energetic Spurs side, resulting in a rare Carabao Cup exit.

Man City player ratings vs Tottenham (4-1-4-1): Starting XI - Ortega (4/10); Lewis (3/10), Stones (4/10), Dias (5/10), Ake (4/10); Gundogan (4/10); Nunes (6/10), McAtee (4/10), O’Reilly (5/10), Savinho (6/10); Foden (3/10). Substitutes - Kovacic (5/10), Gvardiol (4/10), Silva (5/10), Wright (5/10), Simpson-Pusey (5/10). Manager - Guardiola (4/10).

What are your Man City player ratings vs Tottenham in their 2-1 loss in the EFL Cup round of 16?