Pep Guardiola has vowed to bring Manchester City back to their dominant best after Erling Haaland’s lone goal secured a crucial 1-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Haaland’s clinical finish in the 12th minute gave City a much-needed boost in their bid for a top-four Premier League finish, as they moved up to fourth place. However, for a team that has won six of the last seven league titles, merely fighting for a Champions League spot marks a significant drop in standards.
With Liverpool almost certain to lift the trophy, City’s title defense has been long over. A painful Champions League exit to Real Madrid has also left Guardiola with only the FA Cup as a chance for silverware this season.
But despite City’s struggles, Guardiola remains confident in his team’s ability to return to their dominant form.
“This season, we are not the old City. The old City was too good, but we will be back,” Guardiola declared.
Wednesday’s match at Tottenham reflected both City’s strengths and weaknesses. They started brightly and should have extended their lead but were left hanging on in the second half as Spurs piled on the pressure.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou admitted his injury-hit side struggled in the first half but dominated after the break, falling just short of an equalizer.
“It’s disappointing to lose again, but we looked more like ourselves today,” Postecoglou said.
With City now focused on securing a top-four finish and an FA Cup triumph, Guardiola remains determined to restore his side to the unstoppable force they once were.
