Tottenham Hotspur tactics
Spurs started in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation with the emphasis still on patient attacks.
But Mauricio Pochettino allowed his side to take the direct route during quick change-overs in order to take advantage of Manchester City’s shape in those transitional periods.
Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli had important roles during those quick attacks as they made runs in behind City’s full-backs looking to exploit the space to the sides of City’s central defenders. Their teammates had to quickly play balls in behind to release those wide midfielders.
When Tottenham had good possession, they committed forward in numbers with Nabil Bentaleb sitting in front of the central defenders. Ryan Mason pushed forward to support play centrally while also making late runs into the box to join Harry Kane.
Chadli and Lamela drifted inside from the flanks to allow space for the overlapping Danny Rose and Eric Dier. Christian Eriksen operated as the central attacking midfielder, linking up play centrally.
When out of possession, Spurs defended in a 4-5-1 formation with the full-backs dropping back to the defensive line while Chadli and Lamela pulled out wide to deal with City’s full-backs. In central midfield, Eriksen defended as the most advanced central midfielder in front of Bentaleb and Mason.
Manchester City tactics
Manuel Pellegrini had to replace Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure so Fernandinho and James Milner started in place of that missing pair. The City boss continued with the 4-2-3-1 formation that he has recently been using despite the availability of the likes of Wilfried Bony and Edin Dzeko.
That meant that Sergio Aguero started up top as the lone striker looking to make runs in behind Spurs’ defence when the hosts adopted a high pressing approach. He worked across the width of the 18-yard box when the Citizens had sustained pressure in the offensive half.
In midfield, Fernandinho had the licence to commit forward leaving Fernando as the holding midfielder. Frank Lampard started in the number 10 role and supported Aguero by making runs into the box while also helping out in the build-up of attacks.
David Silva made his signature movements from the left flank into pockets of space between the lines. That invited the attack-minded Aleksandar Kolarov forward from left-back.
On the right flank, Milner replicated Navas’ role of holding the width, linking up with Pablo Zabaleta and supplying service to Aguero and the attacking midfielders as a natural winger.
When out of possession, Aguero led the defending while Silva and Milner pressed from the sides of midfield. Fernandinho defended alongside Fernando with Lampard pressing from the top of that central midfield triangle.
Key tactical changes
Both sides showed genuine attacking intent from the start with Spurs the better side in the early exchanges and City struggling to deal with long balls played over the top and crosses from wide areas. Once City scored their goal, they dropped back and Tottenham gradually grew into ascendancy.
On the hour-mark Pochettino turned to a 4-4-2 formation with Roberto Soldado as the chief striker while Kane supported the ex-Valencia centre forward. Paulinho and Bentaleb operated from central midfield while Lamela and Chadli worked from the wide midfield positions.
That offensive switch helped Spurs increase pressure on City so Pochettino took another attacking risk in the last 10 minutes by sacrificing Chadli in midfield for the added aerial threat of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Spurs consequently completed the game in a 4-3-3 formation with the Togolese striker as the centre forward while Kane and Soldado hovered on the edges of the City’s box as wide forwards.
Pochettino’s men managed to keep play in City’s half in that last period, so Pellegrini countered their three strikers by tasking Dedryck Boyata to slot in between the central defenders.
Boyata had to deal with the physical presence of Adebayor as City saw the game out in a 5-4-1 formation. Boyata’s introduction was crucial as he had a great cameo. The centre-back won most of the crosses that came in, which was crucial for City to keep their clean sheet.
