When you look at Manchester City’s dominance in English football over the past decade, it’s hard to imagine any team consistently causing them trouble. However, if you’ve followed the Premier League over the past few years, one of the most surprising patterns you might’ve noticed is this: Tottenham Hotspur often beats Manchester City.
It seems strange at first. Manchester City is one of the best teams in the world, loaded with talent, managed by Pep Guardiola, and known for its near-total dominance. So why do Spurs, a team that has had its ups and downs, keep giving them problems?
Let’s take a closer look.
1. City’s Style Fits Spurs Perfectly
Manchester City plays a high-possession, high-line, attacking game. They press teams hard, commit players forward, and try to control every inch of the pitch. But here’s the catch. That style leaves space behind. And if there’s one thing Tottenham loves, it’s space to counterattack.
With pacey attackers like Heung-min Son and a quick transition system, Spurs often punish City on the break. Even when Harry Kane was at the club, he would drop deep to link play and launch quick counterattacks. City’s strength becomes a weakness when they face a team that knows how to defend deep and strike fast.
2. Spurs Stay Compact and Organized
Tottenham’s approach is often simple against City: defend in numbers, stay compact, and wait for the right moment to counter. This frustrates City, who are used to breaking down teams. Even when they don’t have much possession, the Spurs are patient and rarely panic. That organization has helped them keep clean sheets and snatch goals at the perfect time.
Spurs don’t need 60% possession to hurt you. In fact, they often do better with just 30–40%. That suits their attackers, who thrive in space, and defenders, who prefer a compact shape.
3. Confidence Matters, and Spurs Have It
Not every team goes into a match against City believing they can win. But Tottenham do, and belief counts. Big wins in the past, like their dramatic Champions League victory over City in 2019, or the Premier League wins at home with clean sheets, have built a sense of confidence. The players seem to raise their level specifically for this fixture. Spurs simply believe they can beat City. And sometimes, that’s half the battle.
4. City's Lack of a "Plan B" in Tough Matches
City are brilliant when things are going to plan. But when the game gets messy, physical, or slow, they sometimes struggle to adapt, especially when chasing a goal. Tottenham are good at disrupting City's rhythm. They slow the game down, commit smart fouls, and force City into uncomfortable situations. Unlike other teams that get overwhelmed, Spurs stay calm and even frustrate City into rushing things. This lack of "plan B" from City often plays in Spurs' favor.
5. The Kane & Son Combination: A World-Class Duo City Couldn’t Stop
The most defining reason Tottenham consistently troubled Manchester City over the years was the presence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Whenever Spurs faced City, these two almost always delivered. Their chemistry was unmatched. Kane dropping deep to pick up the ball and deliver inch-perfect passes, and Son making explosive runs behind City’s high defensive line.
City's defense, no matter how solid on paper, often struggled to deal with this dynamic. Son’s pace and movement exposed the space behind Guardiola’s full-backs, while Kane’s vision and finishing punished even the smallest lapse in positioning.
Final Thoughts
Football isn’t always about who has the better squad or the biggest budget. Sometimes, it’s about matchups, and Tottenham is a nightmare matchup for Manchester City. While Manchester City remains the king of English football, Tottenham is one of the few teams that consistently find ways to challenge them.
It’s not just luck, it’s a mix of smart tactics, mental resilience, and the ability to capitalize on City's few weaknesses. The recent results of the two teams have turned this matchup into one of the Premier League’s most fascinating modern rivalries.
