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Roberts, now 65, made 278 appearances for Spurs between 1980 and 1986. He helped them win the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982, but he is most well-known for captaining Spurs to UEFA Cup glory in 1984.

With regular captain Steve Perryman suspended for the second leg in the final against Anderlecht, Roberts took the armband, scoring a late equaliser before converting his penalty in the shootout to guide Spurs to victory.

The six-time England international knows all about winning in N17, and he believes Spurs don't have enough leaders at the moment compared to the glory days of the 1980s under manager Keith Burkinshaw.

"We had so many leaders. [Glenn] Hoddle, [Steve] Perryman, [Chris] Hughton, [Tony] Galvin, Ossie [Ardiles], [Ricky] Villa, [Paul] Miller, and [Ray] Clemence. Not only were we a team of leaders, but we could all play and had character as well," he said.

"The game is short of characters, and Spurs especially lack characters and leaders on the pitch. This is so important as with different types of characters, especially those who need a lift during games; Spurs need to look at this in their next recruitment."

After a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last night, Spurs now sit 14th in the Premier League. It is the first time they have lost 16 of their opening 30 league games since 1977, with the only hope of success this campaign now in the Europa League.

Next Thursday, Spurs host Frankfurt, who sit third in the Bundesliga, in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. Roberts' greatest moment came in UEFA's second-tier competition, and he admitted that he always felt they could fight back despite going 1-0 down in the second leg of the final to Anderlecht.

"It was the best! To be named captain as Perryman was out was the greatest highlight of my career," he told the site.

"There was no added pressure, and I think I thrived being captain as i scored and also created the penalty we got in the final. We were 1-0 down, but I always felt our team could come back and win."

Chelsea have returned to winning ways, kicking away the frustration of the 1-0 defeat suffered at Arsenal before the break.

It was a lively start from the Blues who started the encounter playing at tempo, with Nicolas Jackson getting in behind on occasions from direct balls over Spurs' high line.

A second half header from Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea in front, before a brilliant strike from Moises Caicedo that was questionably ruled out. At this point, however, it looked very unlikely that Spurs were going to find their way back into the game.

That was until the Lilywhites had a chance of their own late on, with their best opportunity coming through substitute Brennan Johnson, who teed up Heung Min Son at the far post. His attempt was saved by Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea had to hold out for the last several minutes, although the three points never really looked in doubt.

The race for Champions League spots is beginning to liven up - here are VAVEL's player ratings from the game.

Chelsea Player Ratings

Robert Sanchez – 7/10

Although he nearly gifted Spurs an equaliser with a moment he’ll be relieved didn’t end up on the scoresheet, Sanchez recovered to play a key role in Chelsea’s clean sheet.

His distribution stood out, especially with a couple of pinpoint long passes that helped relieve pressure in nervy moments. Most importantly, the Spaniard made a superb save late on to deny Tottenham and secure the win for his side.

Malo Gusto – 6/10

It was a mixed performance from the young right-back, who had some difficulties in possession and was occasionally sloppy under pressure.

However, he deserves credit for largely nullifying the threat of Heung-min Son, keeping the Spurs forward relatively quiet throughout. With Reece James returning from injury and watching most of the match from the bench, the comparison will be inevitable - and Gusto may find himself second choice again soon.

Trevoh Chalobah – 7/10

Chalobah brought real aggression and physicality to the backline, clearly up for the fight in a heated London derby. His involvement in a fiery altercation before half-time earned him a booking.

With Wesley Fofana sidelined again, this could be a vital spell for Chalobah to reassert himself and stake a claim for consistent starts under Maresca.

Levi Colwill – 6/10

Solid if unspectacular, Colwill quietly handled his business and played a vital role in keeping Dominic Solanke - once a Chelsea academy product -out of the game.

His strength in one-on-one duels and aerial presence helped keep Tottenham from building much momentum. After missing international duty, this was a timely return to action in a high-stakes clash.

Marc Cucurella – 7/10

One of Chelsea’s most in-form players this season, Cucurella again showcased why he’s become undroppable.

The Spaniard was a constant outlet on the left, combining well going forward while being tenacious in defence. With no senior alternative in his position currently available, his importance to this Chelsea team continues to grow with every passing game.

Enzo Fernandez – 8/10

Wearing the captain’s armband on the night, Fernandez led by example with a typically energetic and intelligent midfield display.

He timed his run perfectly to nod home Cole Palmer’s cross for the game’s only goal - a moment that ultimately made the difference. Fernandez continues to be a key cog in Maresca’s system, combining defensive awareness with goal threat from midfield.

Moises Caicedo – 9/10

Caicedo shrugged off an early knock to deliver a performance full of quality and defensive assurance. The Ecuadorian was everywhere - intercepting passes, breaking up Spurs' rhythm, and quickly launching Chelsea counters.

The 23-year-old was unfortunate to see his goal ruled out. Otherwise, a complete showing from a top-class performer.

Pedro Neto – 6/10

Neto worked hard across both flanks and helped maintain defensive shape, but was unable to make much of an impact in the final third.

Despite his willingness to track back and cover ground, he lacked the cutting edge needed to create real danger. A switch back to the left wing following Madueke’s introduction gave him more space, but chances remained limited.

Cole Palmer – 7/10

Palmer was Chelsea’s creative spark throughout and looked keen to end his goal drought at Stamford Bridge. While he didn’t find the net himself, his contribution was pivotal - delivering a pinpoint assist for Fernandez’s header just after the break.

His class and quality is always on show despite the from he's in, slowly but surely getting back to his best.

Jadon Sancho – 5/10

Sancho showed flashes of quality but once again looked like a player short on confidence. He had Chelsea’s best chance of the first half, drawing a fine save from Vicario, but his end product and decision-making let him down at crucial moments.

Much of Chelsea’s play went down the left side, but Sancho failed to make it count, showing a real lack of ability to create separation from his full-back.

Nicolas Jackson – 7/10

Jackson nearly marked his return with an early goal, latching onto a direct ball over the top inside the opening minute.

His movement and hold-up play gave Chelsea a much-needed focal point up front, stretching the Spurs back line and linking well with teammates. Though he didn’t score, his presence was felt - and his return from injury couldn’t have come at a better time in the season.

Substitutes

Noni Madueke – 6/10

Back from injury, Madueke brought fresh legs and attacking intent from the bench.

He slotted into the right wing and instantly looked to drive at defenders, adding width and urgency to Chelsea’s play. While he didn’t create any clear-cut chances, his pressing from the front was valuable as the Blues sought to close out the match.

Reece James – 6/10

Introduced in the second half, James offered calmness and composure during a tense final stretch. His ability to retain the ball under pressure and pick out smart passes helped Chelsea keep their nerve.

With his return carefully managed, Maresca will know how vital James could be in the coming weeks as the fixture list intensifies.

Tosin Adarabioyo – N/A

Came on late as Chelsea switched to a more defensive shape, tasked with helping preserve the narrow lead. Limited time, but did what was asked of him.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – N/A

Another late change by Maresca to add fresh legs and defensive work rate in midfield. Despite minimal minutes, he showed commitment in pressing and not being afraid to get stuck in.

Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes after a 1-0 win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur in an edgy encounter.

A second half header from Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández in the 50th minute was enough to separate the sides, with Chelsea dominating every aspect but the score in the first half.

Spurs were looking to get some confidence back to their team, with a crucial Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt to come next week. With just one win at Stamford Bridge in their entire Premier League history, they were looking to change this. However, this was not the day to do it as their struggles continue.

With teams around them in the table winning this week in Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, it was important that Chelsea got themselves three points in a tight race for the fourth placed Champions League spot. The fifth placed team is looking likely to also be given Champions League qualification but this is not a guarantee, making the fight for fourth even more important.

VAR had a major say in the evening’s result, with both teams seeing goals ruled out, but it was the header of Fernández that ultimately separated the sides.

Story of the Match

Chelsea could have easily been ahead by two or three goals at half time had their end product been better. Striker Nicolas Jackson almost gave them the perfect start with less than a minute played.

After getting onto the end of a long ball, it took a touch of both Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defender Micky van de Ven before hitting the post. Full back Malo Gusto tested the Tottenham net moments later, his effort falling just wide of the post.

Tottenham kept playing with fire after some sloppy passes, with Vicario looking shaky after some questionable distribution. Nothing seemed to flow well for Tottenham, with a mixture of shaky defending and a lack of any attacking threat.

Chelsea continued to feed opportunities down the throats of Tottenham’s defence, Destiny Udogie getting a vital touch to prevent a certain Fernández opener after Cole Palmer’s ball into the box. Former Wolves forward Pedro Neto caused problems with his crossing, with one just missing the heads of Palmer and Jackson.

The only significant effort from Tottenham came from Son Heung-min, the South Korean international dribbling and stepping over, his low effort forcing a save from former Brighton man Robert Sánchez.

Vicario struggled in the first half immensely, but he produced the best save of the evening. Another Neto crossed threatened Tottenham, finding the feet of Jadon Sancho who curled an effort towards the top right corner before Vicario got his fingertips to it to keep the scores level at half time.

The game was not without its drama in a temper filled affair, with a scuffle towards the end of the first half involving many of the players on the field. It started between Cristian Romero and Trevor Chalobah, but soon descended to chaos with a huge melee.

Chelsea find their breakthrough in the second half

After a dominant first half performance that still managed to lack a clear-cut chance, the hosts made amends for this just five minutes into the second half.

Marc Cucurella found Palmer, who was making a long-awaited return to the first team. He took a touch and showed why he won PFA Young Player of the Year last season. His cross found the head of a free Fernández, who rose past Udogie and gave Chelsea the lead on what was his second goal of the season against Tottenham.

Chelsea thought they had doubled their lead, after midfielder Moisés Caicedo’s powerful effort raised the net. Fernández’s free kick was headed away, took a touch off Lucas Bergvall and was stuck back by Caicedo into the back of the net with a low driven powerful strike. After a lengthy check, the Ecuadorian’s second goal of the season was ruled out after Levi Colwill was deemed to be in an offside position.

Spurs had appeals for a penalty after they felt Udogie’s cross hit the hand of Chalobah. VAR did not agree but they soon thought they had found themselves level. After a header was won by Pape Matar Sarr, he hit a magnificent low effort past the weak hands of Robert Sánchez. However, the 22-year-old was deemed to have caught the knee of Caicedo and the goal was ruled out, with a yellow card to follow.

Spurs kept fighting and showed some character, Son being denied late on. Substitute Brennan Johnson drove down the right-hand side, finding the South Korean at the far post. Stretching out, Son’s effort was denied by Sánchez. It was too little too late for Spurs and the full-time whistle was blown after 12 minutes of added time followed.

Player of the match: Enzo Fernández

If anyone ever questioned the value of Fernández to Enzo Maresca’s side, then this performance was one to do it. With a goal and an assist for a goal that was ruled out by VAR, he was the heartbeat of this Chelsea side.

He dominated the midfield battle and had an impact going forward as well. He showcased a passion and drive that not many did during a drab affair.

Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts has shared his opinions on current affairs at the club, speaking about their looming UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie and Head Coach Ange Postecoglou.

Roberts, who is now 65, joined Spurs from Weymouth in 1980 and went on to make 278 appearances in North London, winning the FA Cup twice and a UEFA Cup, which has since been rebranded to the UEFA Europa League - a competition which could determine the future of Postecoglou.

His passion for the badge was second to none, with Roberts losing three teeth in the 1981 FA Cup final victory, yet refused to leave the pitch in order to help his side beat Manchester City. The defender also captained the side to their 1984 UEFA Cup triumph over Anderlecht and scored in the second leg of The Lilywhites' final against their Belgian opposition.

Question: You were a big part of Spurs' success in the 1984 UEFA Cup. What do you make of their chances in the Europa League this season, and more specifically, the fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt coming up?

"I think Spurs have a decent chance of winning the Europa League this season. If they can get all their top players fit and, on the pitch, they are a match for anyone.

"It will be tough, as we’re in the business end of the competition, but Spurs have the capability of competing with the best of the teams left. Solanke, Maddison, Van de Ven, Vicario especially are crucial to be fit and start. It’s been a tough and hard season for Spurs, but this is their chance to finish really well.”

If there is someone who knows how to bring home this trophy, and more specifically bring it home to North London, than it's Graham Roberts.

There is absolutely no doubt Spurs are one of the stronger sides on paper left in the competition, and they haven't had a bad campaign in Europe either. They have only failed to pick up a victory on three occasions, one of which was a draw in the League Phase, alongside losses against Galatasaray in the same phase and AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Round of 16 being the other.

Apart from the loss in the Netherlands, those other two games took place with The Lilywhites missing a number of key players, so if they can be kept fit, and perhaps the Europa League is prioritised, then there could be a high chance they could be set for a date in Bilbao for the final at the end of May.

All that stands in their way is 180 minutes against Frankfurt, who lost a key player and goalscorer in Omar Marmoush in January, and either Lazio or Bodø/Glimt in the semi-final. Tricky ties, but more than winnable.

Postecoglou's style of play

For the best part of 20 months now, we have seen the former Celtic boss order his Tottenham side to press high up the pitch, defend with a high line and throw plenty of bodies forward in attack. However, it has reached a point where some fans have questioned whether it is actually benefitting the side.

During his reign, we have seen an unnatural amount of injuries, whether that be in training or from the strenuous amounts of effort some have been required to put into matches due to their role, but what remains to be seen is whether or not his style of football has been a key factor to the several injury crises he has had to face.

There's no doubt this had had a direct detrimental effect on his side. For example, they were top of the league before a number of key players got injured last season, derailing the season and eventually finishing fifth. Whilst in the current campaign, having played throughout the busiest period of the season with around thirteen senior players fit, the Premier League season has been ruined after a strong start.

Question: What have you made of Ange Postecoglou's style of play - is it sustainable long-term?

"The first 10 games of last season were brilliant. We caught everyone by surprise and were top of the league, scoring plenty of goals and excellent football.

"But teams have now found us out and we aren’t adapting to the way other teams are playing. So I don’t think it is sustainable. You have to adapt in game to the way the game is going and the players you have on the pitch are key to selecting a style of play. I don’t think it’s one way with whoever you have fit."

If, as Graham Says, the football is unsustainable, then it begs the question of whether or not Postecoglou is the man to lead Spurs past the summer.

Already we are seeing rumours that state a review will take place at the end of the campaign, whilst names such as Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva have been thrown around as likely candidates to replace the Australian.

It's set to be a big final two months for Postecoglou if he is to continue into a third season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with his laurels most definitely depending on whether or not he can break a 17-year trophy duct and bring European success to N17.

Tottenham Hotspur overturned a first leg deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate and book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Goals from Wilson Odobert and James Maddison looked to set Spurs on their way, before AZ's Peer Koopmeiners brought the tie level in the 63rd minute. However, Odobert found the back of the net again with 15 minutes remaining to seal a crucial victory.

It is the first time they have reached the Europa League quarter-finals since the 2012/13 campaign. They will face Eintracht Frankfurt, who beat Ajax 6-2 on aggregate.

Spurs' season — and even Ange Postecoglou's job — was riding on this match. They sit 13th in the Premier League and this acts as their only opportunity to return to the Champions League.

They could have floundered under the pressure, but Spurs showcased how 'Ange Ball' – when clicking – can be effective. Odobert's opener, his first for the club, in the 27th minute came as a result of their high press.

In the second half, Maddison's 48th-minute strike saw Spurs elegantly move the ball from back to front, whilst the same happened for Odobert's winner in the 75th minute.

They were far from perfect — Koopmeiner's goal which temporarily brought the tie level in the second half came as a result of miscommunication from Odobert and Lucas Bergvall at the back — but this performance prolongs Spurs' hope for the campaign, and Postecoglou's managerial position.

Story of the Match

Tottenham made four changes from their team that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth at the weekend. Micky van de Ven, replacing the injured Kevin Danso, and Cristian Romero started alongside one another for just the second time since October 30th.

AZ, who didn't play at the weekend, made just one change; winger Ibrahim Sadiq replaced the injured Mayckel Lahdo.

With an electric atmosphere behind them, Spurs started with a high intensity that saw them have 73% possession in the opening 20 minutes. They failed to translate that into a single clear-cut chance early on, though.

'Ange Ball' has been under fire recently with Spurs 13th in the Premier League, but – when clicking – it focuses heavily on high pressing. Spurs showcased that 27 minutes in and they reaped the rewards to level the tie on aggregate.

Heung-Min Son pressed high and blocked Wouter Goes' clearance. It landed directly at Dominic Solanke's feet, who remained composed to set up Odobert. The Frenchman made no mistake with a confident finish into the top right corner to score his first Spurs goal.

Spurs continued to dominate proceedings in the first half, but they did start to make a few needless mistakes in their own defensive third. While AZ never threatened, it proved that the hosts needed to keep their pressure on with the aggregate score level at half-time.

After the break, they did exactly that and led on aggregate for the first time within three minutes. They dispossessed AZ in the middle of the park and broke quickly. Maddison sprayed it out wide to Son, with the South Korean returning it to the playmaker within the box. He found space to curl a delightful effort into the bottom right corner.

Losing on aggregate for the first time, AZ tried to fight back. Jordy Clasie placed a low effort from the edge of the box narrowly wide of the left post just before the hour mark, and they were eventually rewarded in the 64th minute.

AZ gifted Spurs their opening goal of the night — and Spurs returned the favour this time around. Bergvall's back pass on the edge of their own box accidentally hit teammate Odobert, with Koopmeiners capitalising. He picked up possession and fired a powerful strike past Guglielmo Vicario.

It eventually turned into a tennis match — back and forth AZ and Spurs went looking for the lead on aggregate — and eventually the hosts 'took a set' with 15 minutes to go.

Spurs moved the ball from back to front brilliantly via a stunning turn and run deep in their own half. He sprayed it out wide, with Son finding Djed Spence on the overlap. The full-back played a low ball into the box to Solanke and his stunning flick set up Odobert at the back post to tap home.

Considered a contender for Spurs' goal of the season, they had control in the tie once again, but they were forced to valiantly defend for the final 15 minutes.

In quick succession, Vicario denied Troy Parrott with a firm save whilst Yves Bissouma produced a stunning last-ditch block to ruin Mees de Mit's dreams. Met with a raucous applause by the home fans, Spurs gave it everything — and eventually held on to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Player of the Match – James Maddison

When Maddison is at his best, there are very few better. After a quiet first half, he came to life in the second period, making it 2-0 in the 48th minute before being at the heart of Spurs' third goal.

His dazzling turn and run set Spurs on their way before Odobert tapped it home — and, when you need moments of magic in big matches, he provided exactly that.

High-flying Bournemouth take on Tottenham Hotspur in North London for an early Sunday kick-off, which promises to be full of intensity and attacking play.

The Cherries currently sit in 7th place and three points off of Chelsea in 5th place, which is expected to be enough to qualify for the Champions League given current coefficients.

For Spurs, the hope and promise during pre-season has all but disappeared completely, due to their difficult campaign and this has meant that the club sits in a lowly 13th place and ten points behind their weekend opponents.

The reverse fixture in December last year saw the Cherries win 1-0 through a Dean Huijsen goal and travelling fans will be hoping they can once again profit from Spurs’ shortcomings to bring home an important three points.

Targeting Spurs’ centre back duo

Bournemouth have made a habit of unsettling opposition defenders this season with their intensity, pace, and fluid attacking play.

Their relentless pressing and well-structured patterns have led to free-kicks, penalties, and costly mistakes, making them one of the most difficult sides to defend against in transition.

With the return of Evanilson, alongside the recent returns of Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra, the Cherries’ attack is once again operating at full throttle.

Andoni Iraola now has the squad depth to rotate effectively, ensuring fresh legs can maintain high intensity throughout the game.

Spurs, too, have also had their fair share of injury struggles this season, particularly with injuries to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven hurting most—two players crucial to their high-line setup.

In their absence, recent loan signing Kevin Danso has been introduced alongside Archie Gray, a midfielder by trade, who has adapted well to the role.

Whilst Danso is a strong, experienced defender, Gray has shown composure beyond his years.

But their partnership remains relatively new, making them vulnerable to Bournemouth’s high-tempo, aggressive attack.

Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last six games, highlighting their defensive fragility and with Bournemouth’s attackers in excellent form, there will be plenty of opportunities to test and expose Spurs’ centre back duo.

Keeping the Cherries out for 90 minutes will require an exceptional defensive display from the hosts, or else they risk being overwhelmed by Bournemouth’s attacking firepower.

Kluivert’s away form

Justin Kluivert has been sensational for Bournemouth this season, emerging as the team’s most dangerous player going forward.

In 26 Premier League appearances, the Dutchman has registered 12 goals and 5 assists, a remarkable improvement on his 7 goals and 1 assist from last season.

His development under Iraola has been evident, and his performances have reached another level.

However, what stands out most is Kluivert’s exceptional away form.

Of his 17 goal contributions, a staggering 13 have come away from home, highlighting just how much he thrives in Bournemouth’s high-intensity system on the road.

His ability to exploit space, drive at defenders, and produce moments of magic has made him one of the most effective away-day players in the league this season.

Much of Kluivert’s success stems from his blistering pace, strength, and fearless dribbling, which makes him a nightmare for defenders to contain.

His versatility is also key, as he is just as effective cutting in from the wing as he is playing centrally, giving his manager a valuable attacking weapon that can disrupt even the most well-organised of defences.

His form since the turn of the year has been outstanding, with eight goal contributions in his last eight games, further cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s most in-form attackers.

With another away trip to Spurs on Sunday, the question now is—can Kluivert continue his incredible run on the road and add to Tottenham’s growing list of problems?

Fierce battles expected

Both Bournemouth and Tottenham are known for their high-intensity, fast-paced football, whether in their pressing game or attacking transitions.

With two aggressive, front-foot teams going head-to-head, Sunday’s clash is set to be anything but slow or dull.

And the stats highlight just how physical and high-energy this game could be.

Tottenham rank second in the league for progressive carries, showcasing their desire to drive forward with the ball but they also sit second for the number of times dispossessed, meaning their aggressive dribbling style can leave them vulnerable to being caught out.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are fourth in the league for tackles and interceptions, so they are more than equipped to disrupt Spurs’ rhythm and force mistakes.

When it comes to Bournemouth, they enjoy attacking success from a vertical style of play and are particularly effective when launching long balls for Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo to chase with strict focus on shifting the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible.

With Tottenham’s high-line this could prove to be a fruitful tactic.

But even outside of the attacking play, this fixture will be fiercely contested.

Bournemouth have committed the most fouls in the league, whilst Spurs rank in the top three for most fouls won—suggesting plenty of battles in midfield as the visitors will look to hound the Spurs players all over the pitch.

One of Spurs’ strengths lies in their counter-attacks and having scored 10 goals from counters, the second-highest in the league, Bournemouth must be wary of the tie turning into a basketball game.

That being said, Bournemouth have conceded just one counter-attacking goal all season—the best record in the division.

So if the Cherries can maintain their defensive discipline and physicality, they have every chance of frustrating their hosts and taking full advantage of any defensive lapses in transition.

Christie a doubt

Bournemouth have had plenty of standout performers this season, with Kluivert, Semenyo, Milos Kerkez, and Illia Zabarnyi often taking the headlines.

However, one player who has quietly been crucial to Iraola’s system is Ryan Christie.

His work rate, defensive tenacity, and intelligent ball progression have been vital in allowing his teammates to flourish.

Christie’s ability to disrupt opposition play while also moving the ball forward efficiently makes him an integral part of Bournemouth’s midfield.

However, after coming off in the first half against Brighton and missing the FA Cup clash with Wolves last weekend, concerns have grown over his fitness levels heading into this crucial phase of the season.

Fortunately, Bournemouth have depth in midfield.

Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook have both had excellent seasons, but with Cook expected to continue at right back, Alex Scott is likely to keep his place alongside Adams in the middle, just as he did in the FA Cup.

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Tottenham failed to expand on their impressive record against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, losing to the champions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for just the third time in nine matches.

Ange Postecoglou's decision to leave out key players, such as the rejuvenated Djed Spence, along with Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski - who have caused Man City so many problems in recent encounters, caused mixed reactions from the Tottenham faithful.

It was a chaotic opening 20 minutes, as Ange Postecoglou's renowned high-pressing style, led to his side being dispossessed multiple times, allowing Man City to create a surplus of chances.

Tottenham were punished in the 12th minute, when Erling Haaland connected with Jeremy Doku's deflected cross from the left wing. And the Norwegian nearly doubled his side's lead shortly after, but his close range effort was saved excellently by Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham hunted an equaliser in the second half, looking more assured defensively, and creating a surplus of late opportunities, as they came agonisingly close to finding a leveller.

However, Postecoglou's side failed to be clinical with their late flurry of chances, unlike in their emphatic 4-0 victory at the Etihad in November.

The result leaves Tottenham 13th in the Premier league table, but with Postecoglou encouraged by his side's "Aggressive football".

Increased player availability vital for final stages of the season

Postecoglou has frequently drawn attention to the fact that his team has suffered a great deal with the vast array of injuries they have suffered.

The Australian highlighted the benefit of having a greater selection of players to bring on off the bench, which influenced their improved second half performance.

"I think you see the benefit of us going into a game well prepared.

"That level of performance in the second half, if we can begin to get consistent with that then we'll be able to push on."

This will be vital for Tottenham, as they approach a busy schedule, involving key Europa League fixtures, many of whom feel will dictate the future of Postecoglou as Tottenham manager.

"We're going to have some real options which we're going to need.

"We've got Europa and league back to back now and we need as many bodies available for that as possible."

Postecoglou explains why he left out Spence, Son and Kulusevski

Some fans respected the decision to leave out the trio, given that Tottenham have very little to play for in the Premier League.

It therefore made sense to give some players much needed rest, as the Europa League takes a higher priority.

On the other hand, some fans thought it was unwise to leave out players who have haunted Man City so often in the past.

"Deki, Sonny and Djed have played an enormous amount of time, so having them have a little bit of recovery and a breather, I thought was going to be helpful for us.

"We needed Destiny, Brennan and Wilson to play today and get some minutes."

Tottenham rue squandered chances in the second half

"We had a few of those moments in the second half where it just either flashed across the box, or Ederson's made a save, or they've made a block.

"Obviously you're flattened by the defeat but in terms of the way we played and the way we went about it, it was much more like the team we want to be.

"It's a lesson in there for us. I certainly feel the second half we dominated the game and territory and we were pretty relentless and much better with ball, more calm, but just missing a goal and ultimately fell short."

A crucial time period awaits Tottenham. It seems as though the three-game winning streak prior to last night's game, gave them the breathing space they needed over the relegation zone.

Tottenham Hotspur fell to a narrow home defeat to Manchester City last night as they were repeatedly undone by the reigning Premier League champions.

The hosts were fortunate that their net had only been breached once going into the interval. A disjointed outfit was being picked apart by a City team hungry to make amends after their recent poor form.

Jeremy Doku frequently breezed past the opposition defenders at will and created the only goal of the contest. The Belgian trickster found the returning Erling Haaland unmarked in the middle and the Norwegian clinically tapped past Guglielmo Vicario.

In the second period, Ange Postecoglou’s players were much improved and the introduction of Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son and Djed Spence contributed to the upheaval.

However, their dominant spell didn’t yield an equaliser and the visitors reassumed control of proceedings. In stoppage-time, Haaland thought he had doubled his tally for the evening with a delicate chip.

In a confusing turn of events, a lengthy VAR check eventually confirmed Jarred Gillet’s on-field decision of no goal for a handball offence.

There was still time in the match for a last-gasp chance for Pape Matar Sarr, but the Senegalese international couldn’t readjust in the dying embers to restore parity. The referee then blew the full-time whistle which sealed Tottenham’s fate; a 14th league defeat of a miserable campaign.

With a crucial Europa League knockout tie against AZ Alkmaar looming, Postecoglou will be determined to make sure any issues that arose tonight are quickly ironed out. Here’s what we learnt from tonight.

Djed Spence has become indispensable

For the sake of freshness and squad rotation, the Spurs manager opted to name Spence amongst the substitutes. It was a logical decision to make – Pedro Porro had been rested on the weekend against Ipswich and Destiny Udogie needed to build up his match fitness after a period out injured. But sometimes logic doesn’t always point you in the correct direction.

Spence has emphatically proven his value over the last few weeks. In all three of Spurs’ successive wins over Brentford, Manchester United and Ipswich Town, the full-back was named Player of the Match. That is an incredible feat for any individual, let alone a right-back playing on his weaker side.

His attributes make him a formidable opponent for even the most talented of forwards and he was sorely missed tonight for Tottenham. Porro was run ragged by the speed and directness of Jeremy Doku while Udogie looked vulnerable at times. Spence’s introduction midway through the second period lifted the mood around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the home faithful cheering his entrance. The Englishman’s recent performances have made him a fan favourite in N17 and may caught the attention of newly appointed England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The truth is Spence has become indispensable. His qualities are integral to the way Spurs approach matches. The full-back’s athleticism is crucial when defending transitions and his ability to protect the ball helps retain possession. Tonight indicated what can happen when Spence isn’t in the starting eleven. During the remainder of the campaign, Postecoglou isn’t likely to make that same mistake in an important game again.

Sarr is a shadow of his former self

Last year, Pape Matar Sarr was being lauded as one of the Premier League’s brightest young starlets. He was described as industrious, imposing and a classic throwback to the all-encompassing midfielders of a previous generation.

But this term, you can’t help but feel he’s regressed. Sarr is one of a select few in the squad that hasn’t been blighted by injuries recently, yet still looks compromised. You could argue that he’s simply fatigued from the constant demand of the schedule, but that isn’t the reality.

The 22-year-old started the first six games of the calendar year, but in the following six games he hasn’t started one.

Sarr entered the fray with 20 minutes remaining last night and stood out for all the wrong reasons. In his brief appearance, the Senegalese picked up a needless booking for a petulant foul and missed a glorious opportunity to equalise with virtually the last touch of the evening.

Heung-min Son flicked Porro’s cross into Sarr’s direction, but the former Metz man somehow couldn’t direct the ball goalward from a few yards out. In fairness, he had very little time to react, but fine margins like that separate the good players from the great.

A guaranteed starter before, Sarr has noticeably fallen down the pecking order. He’ll have to improve to win that place back.

Mathys Tel is yet to acclimatise to English football

The loan capture of highly-rated Mathys Tel on deadline day of the January window was considered a serious coup for Tottenham Hotspur.

Tel had several suitors and after initially dismissing the offer to move to North London, the teenager eventually chose to make the switch.

The Bayern Munich loanee was thrown into the deep end and made his debut at Anfield in a 4-0 loss to Liverpool.

Spurs were also defeated by Aston Villa a few days later. However, there was a glimmer of positivity to take from the display as Tel grabbed a late consolation to get off the mark for his new club.

Since that goal, the Frenchman has been largely ineffective. His performances against Manchester United, Ipswich and Manchester City have all merged into one amalgamation of anonymity. Tel was chasing shadows for the majority of those contests and, putting it harshly, Tottenham simply looked better when he wasn’t on the pitch.

Now, this isn’t writing off the 19-year-old. Far from it. There’s clearly potential just waiting to be unlocked.

But, it’s pertinent to mention that his acclimatisation to English football hasn’t gone smoothly.

The silver lining of Tottenham’s disastrous league position is that Postecoglou can continue to offer Tel minutes with no real jeopardy attached. The sole focus should now purely be on winning the Europa League. Not only would it put an end to Tottenham’s trophy drought, but it would also see the club qualify for the Champions League. And at this rate, the Lilywhites will be lucky to scrape Conference League qualification through their league positioning.

Lucas Bergvall is growing in confidence

Bergvall’s development is fascinating to watch with the teenager growing from a boy into a man right before our eyes. The Swede’s last two performances, against Ipswich and City have been his best in a Spurs shirt since he joined from boyhood club Djurgarden.

Last night he took the responsibility of driving his side up the pitch with purposeful darting forays forward. With every passing minute, his confidence increases, which is personified by his elegant feints and inventive footwork. The most exciting thing is that he is still only 19 and is far from the finished product. If he fulfils his potential and continues on this upward trajectory, we could be looking at one of the sport’s finest midfielders.

As part of his journey towards complete maturity, Bergvall must become more disciplined. Far too often this season he has given away a cheap free-kick or received a silly booking. Time will undoubtedly eradicate these minor issues.

Tottenham Hotspur fell to a narrow home defeat to Manchester City last night as they were repeatedly undone by the reigning Premier League champions.

The hosts were fortunate that their net had only been breached once going into the interval. A disjointed outfit was being picked apart by a City team hungry to make amends after their recent poor form.

Jeremy Doku frequently breezed past the opposition defenders at will and created the only goal of the contest. The Belgian trickster found the returning Erling Haaland unmarked in the middle and the Norwegian clinically tapped past Guglielmo Vicario.

In the second period, Ange Postecoglou’s players were much improved and the introduction of Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son and Djed Spence contributed to the upheaval.

However, their dominant spell didn’t yield an equaliser and the visitors reassumed control of proceedings. In stoppage-time, Haaland thought he had doubled his tally for the evening with a delicate chip.

In a confusing turn of events, a lengthy VAR check eventually confirmed Jarred Gillet’s on-field decision of no goal for a handball offence.

There was still time in the match for a last-gasp chance for Pape Matar Sarr, but the Senegalese international couldn’t readjust in the dying embers to restore parity. The referee then blew the full-time whistle which sealed Tottenham’s fate; a 14th league defeat of a miserable campaign.

With a crucial Europa League knockout tie against AZ Alkmaar looming, Postecoglou will be determined to make sure any issues that arose tonight are quickly ironed out. Here’s what we learnt from tonight.

Djed Spence has become indispensable

For the sake of freshness and squad rotation, the Spurs manager opted to name Spence amongst the substitutes. It was a logical decision to make – Pedro Porro had been rested on the weekend against Ipswich and Destiny Udogie needed to build up his match fitness after a period out injured. But sometimes logic doesn’t always point you in the correct direction.

Spence has emphatically proven his value over the last few weeks. In all three of Spurs’ successive wins over Brentford, Manchester United and Ipswich Town, the full-back was named Player of the Match. That is an incredible feat for any individual, let alone a right-back playing on his weaker side.

His attributes make him a formidable opponent for even the most talented of forwards and he was sorely missed tonight for Tottenham. Porro was run ragged by the speed and directness of Jeremy Doku while Udogie looked vulnerable at times. Spence’s introduction midway through the second period lifted the mood around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the home faithful cheering his entrance. The Englishman’s recent performances have made him a fan favourite in N17 and may caught the attention of newly appointed England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The truth is Spence has become indispensable. His qualities are integral to the way Spurs approach matches. The full-back’s athleticism is crucial when defending transitions and his ability to protect the ball helps retain possession. Tonight indicated what can happen when Spence isn’t in the starting eleven. During the remainder of the campaign, Postecoglou isn’t likely to make that same mistake in an important game again.

Sarr is a shadow of his former self

Last year, Pape Matar Sarr was being lauded as one of the Premier League’s brightest young starlets. He was described as industrious, imposing and a classic throwback to the all-encompassing midfielders of a previous generation.

But this term, you can’t help but feel he’s regressed. Sarr is one of a select few in the squad that hasn’t been blighted by injuries recently, yet still looks compromised. You could argue that he’s simply fatigued from the constant demand of the schedule, but that isn’t the reality.

The 22-year-old started the first six games of the calendar year, but in the following six games he hasn’t started one.

Sarr entered the fray with 20 minutes remaining last night and stood out for all the wrong reasons. In his brief appearance, the Senegalese picked up a needless booking for a petulant foul and missed a glorious opportunity to equalise with virtually the last touch of the evening.

Heung-min Son flicked Porro’s cross into Sarr’s direction, but the former Metz man somehow couldn’t direct the ball goalward from a few yards out. In fairness, he had very little time to react, but fine margins like that separate the good players from the great.

A guaranteed starter before, Sarr has noticeably fallen down the pecking order. He’ll have to improve to win that place back.

Mathys Tel is yet to acclimatise to English football

The loan capture of highly-rated Mathys Tel on deadline day of the January window was considered a serious coup for Tottenham Hotspur.

Tel had several suitors and after initially dismissing the offer to move to North London, the teenager eventually chose to make the switch.

The Bayern Munich loanee was thrown into the deep end and made his debut at Anfield in a 4-0 loss to Liverpool.

Spurs were also defeated by Aston Villa a few days later. However, there was a glimmer of positivity to take from the display as Tel grabbed a late consolation to get off the mark for his new club.

Since that goal, the Frenchman has been largely ineffective. His performances against Manchester United, Ipswich and Manchester City have all merged into one amalgamation of anonymity. Tel was chasing shadows for the majority of those contests and, putting it harshly, Tottenham simply looked better when he wasn’t on the pitch.

Now, this isn’t writing off the 19-year-old. Far from it. There’s clearly potential just waiting to be unlocked.

But, it’s pertinent to mention that his acclimatisation to English football hasn’t gone smoothly.

The silver lining of Tottenham’s disastrous league position is that Postecoglou can continue to offer Tel minutes with no real jeopardy attached. The sole focus should now purely be on winning the Europa League. Not only would it put an end to Tottenham’s trophy drought, but it would also see the club qualify for the Champions League. And at this rate, the Lilywhites will be lucky to scrape Conference League qualification through their league positioning.

Lucas Bergvall is growing in confidence

Bergvall’s development is fascinating to watch with the teenager growing from a boy into a man right before our eyes. The Swede’s last two performances, against Ipswich and City have been his best in a Spurs shirt since he joined from boyhood club Djurgarden.

Last night he took the responsibility of driving his side up the pitch with purposeful darting forays forward. With every passing minute, his confidence increases, which is personified by his elegant feints and inventive footwork. The most exciting thing is that he is still only 19 and is far from the finished product. If he fulfils his potential and continues on this upward trajectory, we could be looking at one of the sport’s finest midfielders.

As part of his journey towards complete maturity, Bergvall must become more disciplined. Far too often this season he has given away a cheap free-kick or received a silly booking. Time will undoubtedly eradicate these minor issues.