Last night saw Manchester City win the UCL quarterfinal match, but lose the tie in a game that we’ll never forget. City’s 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur ended in a 4-4 draw on aggregate, which Spurs go through to the semifinals.
It was a match so riveting that even neutrals felt their hearts racing, and the rematch kicks off the Premier League weekend. “It was a nice game for everybody — 3-2 after 20 minutes, and in the second half we did everything,” City boss Pep Gaurdiola said in postgame.
“It was not easy to create chances, but we created a lot. We made mistakes, and in that competition you are punished a lot but we knew it.”
“We scored the goals that we needed. Unfortunately at the end it was a bad end for us. Congratulations Tottenham and all the best for the semifinals.”
With City’s quadruple hopes now dashed, there is still a treble to play for and that includes ambitions on winning the Premier League title. Guardiola knows his side must react, recover and move on quickly.
“We have to stand up and react,” Guardiola continued.
“It is a close time and the same team. Now it’s time to think not too much now. We have to try to sleep as much as possible and the day before the game we are going to prepare the game.”
“We fought for nine or 10 months in the Premier League and still we are there. It is in our hands. Of course it is tough and we have to do it until the end.”
Let’s take a look at who he select in his first team for the weekend’s headliner fixture.
The Bank Manchester City Starting XI Prediction vs Tottenham Hotspur
Forwards: Bernardo Silva Sergio Aguero Raheem Sterling
Midfielders: David Silva Ilkay Gundogan Kevin De Bruyne
Defenders: Kyle Walker Vincent Kompany Aymeric Laporte Benjamin Mendy
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester City Premier League FYIs
Kickoff- Saturday Apr 20, City of Manchester Stadium 12:30 pm
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions- Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City
Odds via Bet365- Manchester City win 2/7, Draw 5/1, Tottenham 10/1
Prediction: Man City 2, Tottenham 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.