Manchester City made it four League Cups in a row with a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a late Aymeric Laporte winner at Wembley on Sunday. The win means Pep Guardiola’s side are still in hunt for a treble of trophies this season, albeit not THE treble.
FULL TIME | WE'VE WON THE CARABAO CUP!
🏆🏆🏆🏆 We're Mad 4 It! 🤩
🔵 1-0 ⚪️ #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/6OpPIf9Jjf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 25, 2021
City were dominant throughout the ninety minutes and made multiple openings but were unable to convert their chances. It looked like it could be one of those nights for the Sky Blues but Laporte’s flick at the near post from a Kevin de Bruyne free-kick gave them the victory. Here are our four talking points from the Carabao Cup final –
KANE FIT
There was much debate on whether Harry Kane would be fit to start or not after the striker hobbled off last Friday towards the end of the draw against Everton. While he had trained outdoors ahead of the final, it was not with the first team and he remained a doubt.
👊 @HKane starts! #CarabaoCupFinal ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/J1BB9g5hoR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 25, 2021
However, the Englishman was passed fit and featured from the start at Wembley – a huge boost for Spurs fans ahead of kickoff. He looked largely fit and the niggle he picked up seemed to be behind him as he made the most of the little service that he received.
HAND ME THE BINOCULARS
The final was a tester event for the UK government, allowing 8000 fans into the stadium ahead of this summer’s Euros. The Tottenham fans, situated behind the City goal in the first half, must have been hoping that they had stayed home and watched it on the telly instead.
City were completely dominant from the start and it was a miracle how Spurs reached half time without conceding a goal. The bulk of the action took place in the Spurs half and their fans, perhaps gratefully, definitely did not have the best view.
SHOULD LAPORTE HAVE BEEN ON THE PITCH?
Laporte, the match-winner, was perhaps somewhat lucky to be on the pitch to score the solitary goal of the evening. He could very well have been sent off by referee Paul Tierney before half-time itself.
GET IIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!! 💪
🔵 1-0 ⚪️ #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/6RNkwcdb3z
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 25, 2021
Laporte received a booking just before the break for a foul on Lucas Moura but it really should have been the Frenchman’s second yellow. He committed a similar foul on Moura in the 25th minute which was given just as a free-kick. The first foul was cynical and stopped Spurs from breaking on the counter which is a textbook yellow. He escaped punishment to deny Tottenham their first trophy since 2007.
WHY SERGE WHY?
Serge Aurier is not one of the best full-backs in the league. He is very good going forward but his ability to throw his brain out the door at any given point of time is unparalleled in the league. This time, it was his unnecesary foul which led to City’s winner on the night.
Admittedly, the marking could have been better but Aurier is more of a liability than any defender in the league (yes even more than David Luiz). His replacement option, Matt Doherty too has been defensively suspect and right-back has become a major problem area for Spurs. Whoever takes charge in the Spurs would want a change of personnel or a change of system that accomodates these mistakes.
