1-Tottenham played passive defensive game in the first
15 minutes. They had no thoughts of winning the ball and counterattacking. They
just wanted to keep the ball out of the penalty area (1). If the opponent
couldn't get out of their own half quickly, they went a little further and
tried to win the ball. They increased the level of the press in the opposing
half (2). In other words, they tried short distance counter-attacks for 20-25
more minutes.
2-Mendy and Cancelo played close to the midfield. In
Tottenham’s attack beginnings, when ball came to Bergwijn or Moura, Son would
go behind the full backs (1). After Bergwijn and Moura sent the ball to Son,
they ran towards the front of the penalty area without the ball (2). In this
way, Tottenham has increased the time to be in the opponent's half.
3-Gundogan sometimes played as a second striker,
closer to Mahrez. He had two duties in this position. The first is to come back
and direct the attack after receiving the ball (1), and the second is to have
Dier or Reguilon come with him when he comes back. If they came with Gundogan,
there would be space behind the defence for Mahrez. Thus, Mahrez could go from
wing towards the penalty area (2).
4-While Tottenham started counterattacks, first player
to receive the ball aimed to deliver it to the more available player by simply
touching it. On goal, Moura passes Bergwijn, who has a better running path.
Bergwijn carried the ball into the opponent's half. Then Son took the ball and
scored (1). When Mendy came from behind, he could have gone to Son or
approached Moura. This way he could have blocked the goal. However, there were
no opponent in the area he went to (2).
5-Mahrez waited close to the side line. While the
attack continued on the other wing, the attack expanded when the ball came to
him. That's why Tottenham's defence has also expanded (1). As the distance
between defenders increased, Gundogan, Torres and Sterling ran behind the
defenders. Manchester City these players tried to make long passes to these
players (2).
6-Manchester City midfielders are way ahead to
increase the offensive pressure. Defenders waited in the midfield (1). That's
why the area between defenders and midfielders has grown. Tottenham used this
area very well, especially in the second half. They started counter attacks
from the centre (2).
7-Hojbjerg and Dele Alli went to the area where the
players were more in the counter attacks (1). Then they went to the empty area
by running in a semicircle (2). The purpose of such runs is to make sure that
defenders do not see you when you go to the empty zone. If they see later it,
their reaction time is delayed.
8-After De Bruyne entered the game, he became the most
effective player of his team. When Tottenham pressured on him, he passed
Grealish and Zinchenko (1). He took the ball again in the corner of the penalty
area and sometimes he crossed and sometimes he shot (2).
