Chapter 435: What Does It Mean to Break Someone's Heart? Poor Kane!
"Uh, you're right!"
Guardiola realized he had fallen into a trap of his own making. Pursuing versatility excessively wasn't always a good thing. Some players weren't versatile, but they had exceptionally strong points, like De Bruyne's passing or Kante's defending. These strengths were enough for them to make a name for themselves on the pitch, perhaps even becoming legendary players cherished by fans. Conversely, some very versatile players could end up being unremarkable because they lacked standout qualities.
After understanding this, Guardiola finally let go of his stubbornness and abandoned his plan to transform Kante. This decision was a relief for Kante, who felt awkward and uncomfortable playing as a central midfielder and nearly caused the team to lose. If they had actually lost because of his poor performance, Kante would have blamed himself endlessly.
Besides Lin Quan's persuasion, another important reason Guardiola gave up on his experiment was that they were about to face a tough opponent — Tottenham Hotspur. Although Manchester City fans considered Spurs to be their plaything, given the frequent heavy defeats Spurs suffered at City's hands in past seasons, Guardiola did not underestimate them. On the contrary, he believed that Spurs had improved significantly in recent seasons, especially with the rise of Harry Kane, making their attack quite formidable.
Even though Guardiola was well-prepared, he was still taken aback by Kane's performance on the field.
"Goal!!!!"
"The goal scorer is Tottenham's forward Harry Kane!"
"My God, who would have thought that this 22-year-old young striker could score a brace in this match against Manchester City, the team with the strongest defense in the league this season!"
"Unbelievable, Manchester City was nearly defeated by West Ham last game. Is their unbeaten streak about to be ended by Tottenham in this game?"
At this point, the match had reached the 50th minute, and the score was tied at 2-2. Manchester City had a perfect start at White Hart Lane. In the 25th minute of the first half, De Bruyne opened the scoring. In the 38th minute, Lin Quan added another goal, giving City a two-goal lead. The match seemed to be heading in the same direction as previous meetings between the two teams, with City dominating. However, one Tottenham player stood out.
Led by Harry Kane, Spurs launched a fierce counterattack. Kane scored twice, once in the 45th minute of the first half and again in the 50th minute of the second half, bringing Spurs level. Kane's performance left Guardiola stunned.
"This guy, when did he become so strong?"
Guardiola's opinion of Kane changed after those two goals. Although Kane had performed well against City last year, he wasn't this dominant. In just a year, Kane had grown significantly.
In fact, Kane had already started to shine for Spurs last season. He scored 21 goals in the league, second only to Lin Quan. Although the gap in goals between him and Lin Quan was large, it was an impressive achievement for a 22-year-old. As a result, the British media had started hailing Kane as the new "King of England," a title that hadn't always brought success to its previous holders. However, Kane was different from those players because he earned his reputation through his hard work and skills rather than media hype. If he continued to perform well this season, he would undoubtedly become England's top star.
In this match, Kane seemed determined to prove he wasn't a one-hit-wonder, showing that he had a bright future in football. Seeing Kane in such hot form made Guardiola uneasy. Despite the score being level, Spurs had all the momentum. If City didn't change their strategy, they could very well lose this match.
Guardiola took a deep breath to calm himself and signaled his players to change tactics. After Spurs equalized, they were ready to press forward aggressively, but they were surprised to see City retreat into a defensive formation.
City rarely played defensive football, preferring to overwhelm opponents with relentless attacks. Yet, in this match, they chose to pull back. This shift excited the Spurs fans, who initially feared another heavy defeat. The fans started to believe Spurs could finally turn the tables on City and began cheering loudly.
On the sideline, Spurs' coach Pochettino was also taken aback by City's retreat. Guardiola, known for his aggressive style, was now opting for a more conservative approach akin to Mourinho's defensive tactics. Pochettino felt a bit relieved after seeing City's lineup. City's front players excelled in possession football but weren't well-suited for counterattacks due to a lack of speedy wingers.
The match played out much as Pochettino expected. City found a few counterattack opportunities after pulling back, but without pace, they posed little threat. Meanwhile, City's defensive stance made it harder for them to create chances against Spurs' defense.
Realizing that his defensive strategy was not working, Guardiola decided to switch things up again. He brought Aguero off the bench in the 65th minute. Aguero's presence immediately energized City's attack, and alongside Lin Quan, De Bruyne, and David Silva, he started to dismantle Spurs' defense.
In the 72nd minute, Aguero scored, giving City the lead again. Just six minutes later, Lin Quan found the net, sealing a 3-2 victory for Manchester City. This win extended their winning streak to six games.
Despite the victory, Guardiola wasn't entirely satisfied. He was still brooding over his failed experiment with Kante. "It really didn't work out, did it?" he mused. Developing Kante's offensive skills would have been a significant asset for the team.
"Why are you trying to change Kante? You had Yaya Touré, a player with similar qualities, but you didn't favor him much either," Lin Quan questioned Guardiola's persistence. People have their strengths, and if Kante excels in defense, why force him into an unfamiliar role?
So, instead of increasing Manchester City's attacking threat, Guardiola's adjustments seemed to backfire.
"Seeing him in action doesn't live up to the hype. They say Guardiola is one of the best new generation coaches, but now, it seems a bit exaggerated," Pochettino commented. Just as he finished speaking, he saw the assistant referee raise the substitution board.
Manchester City made the first personnel change, bringing on Son Heung-min to replace David Silva. This substitution made Pochettino a bit uneasy. Son Heung-min, known for his speed, was a player Tottenham had their eyes on before Manchester City swooped in. Guardiola's decision to bring him on hinted at his realization that City lacked pace on the wings and he aimed to use Son to break the deadlock.
The Spurs fans immediately began booing. They saw this as a provocation since they knew from media reports that Tottenham had almost signed Son during the summer transfer window. They believed that if they had succeeded in bringing Son in, their attacking power alongside Kane would have been formidable, possibly pushing them into Champions League contention or even challenging for the title.
But that deal didn't go through.
Son Heung-min, unaffected by the boos, focused on the game. Even though Tottenham had made him an offer, choosing Manchester City was a no-brainer for him, especially with Lin Quan there. As he waited to come on, he glanced at the scoreboard. It was just under 60 minutes, earlier than usual for him, which excited him as it meant more time to make an impact. Furthermore, the current tactical setup favored him. In training matches with this tactic, his teammates would prioritize passing to him, using his speed to tear through the defense.
As Son Heung-min entered the field, Manchester City's counter-attacking threat immediately surged. With De Bruyne passing, Aguero supporting, and Lin Quan drawing defenders, Son was almost unstoppable. In the 72nd minute, Son received a pass and sprinted down the wing. Aguero and Lin Quan, forming a triangle, charged towards Tottenham's goal. This intimidating counter-attack had the Spurs fans on edge.
Tottenham's defenders were in a bind. Lin Quan and Aguero were well-known top-tier players, making it impossible to leave them unmarked. This left fewer players to deal with Son. Moreover, since Son was on the wing and the Spurs' full-back had advanced too far and hadn't retreated in time, Son was essentially unmarked.
Faced with a 2-on-3 disadvantage, Tottenham's players chose to fall back to the box, tightly marking Lin Quan and Aguero. They left Son unchecked. Initially planning to cross, Son noticed the defense's setup and decided to cut inside towards the penalty area. "Smart move!" Guardiola praised, giving a thumbs up. If Son had crossed as usual, the defense might intercept it. By cutting inside, he had more options to shoot or pass, forcing the defense to stretch.
Tottenham's defenders reacted a moment too late. As they rushed towards Son, he was already set to shoot. With a powerful strike, the ball flew straight into the net. Tottenham's goalkeeper, positioned to guard against Lin Quan and Aguero, couldn't save Son's shot. The ball soared into the goal, putting Manchester City ahead 3-2. The scorer was their new summer signing, Son Heung-min.
The stadium erupted in boos again. Spurs fans were genuinely heartbroken. The promising game was spoiled by a player who should have been theirs, delivering a double blow that left them feeling gutted. In the VIP box, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy almost choked on his frustration. Manchester City's tactics were brutal, using Son at White Hart Lane to deliver a decisive blow, effectively killing the game and Spurs' hopes.
"What a devastating play!"
"From his own half to the opponent's penalty area, Son's speed, burst, and finishing were incredible. Manchester City got a gem for just 30 million euros!"
"Yeah, compared to last summer's Mangala signing, this was a steal!"
"This goal will make Son Heung-min famous in the Premier League."
"Poor Kane, he fought so hard all game, but they still lost!"
"Nothing he can do; his teammates aren't up to his level."
"Levy's a miser. Why hoard money? Invest in strengthening the team!"
Online, fans passionately discussed the goal. Besides being impressed by Son Heung-min's performance and remembering his name, many Spurs and Kane fans felt sorry for Kane. This match seemed like Kane against Manchester City, much like their season opener at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Kane had fought hard, but the outcome was harsh.