Tottenham Player Ratings vs Man City: Kulusevski Shines, Werner Makes Impact, Plus Five Standout Performances
Here is how we rated the Tottenham players in the 2-1 win against Manchester City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening
Tottenham advanced to the fifth round of the Carabao Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night. Facing a challenging draw against the Premier League champions, manager Ange Postecoglou made five changes, while still fielding a strong lineup to compete against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Timo Werner were brought into the starting eleven, with Djed Spence absent despite returning to training post-injury. Spurs got off to a flying start, with Werner opening the scoring in the fifth minute by finishing off Kulusevski’s pinpoint cross.
However, the early momentum was dampened when Micky van de Ven had to be subbed off in tears due to a suspected hamstring injury. Spurs found more joy in the 25th minute as Sarr doubled the lead with a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box.
Just as Tottenham looked set to carry a two-goal advantage into halftime, Matheus Nunes halved the deficit by finding space at the far post to score. Despite second-half chances from Werner and Kulusevski to re-establish the two-goal lead, Tottenham couldn’t capitalize, giving City hope.
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City’s substitute Jacob Wright came close to leveling the score midway through the second half, and a last-minute effort from Nico O’Reilly nearly threatened Spurs’ victory—though Bissouma’s defensive intervention secured the result. Here’s our player-by-player rating for Spurs:
Guglielmo Vicario
Quiet first half except for conceding Nunes’ late goal. Faced limited action but struggled with a cross in the closing minutes, relying on Bissouma to bail him out. Rating: 6
Archie Gray
Starting at right-back, he faced challenges keeping up with Nunes’ pace and left space for the goal just before halftime. Improved in the second half, distributing the ball effectively. Rating: 6
Match Ratings and Analysis
Cristian Romero
Played a crucial role in the Spurs’ opening goal, helping build up play from the back. Strong in defense, he delivered key moments that frustrated the opposition before being subbed off early in the second half. Rating: 8
Radu Dragusin
Instrumental in the opening goal, contributing to the team’s build-up from the back. He made crucial headers and defensive plays, showcasing an impressive performance. Rating: 8
Micky van de Ven
Shifted to left-back in Udogie’s absence but unfortunately exited due to a suspected hamstring injury just 13 minutes in. Looked dejected as he was escorted off by Bissouma. Rating: 5
Rodrigo Bentancur
Seized his chance after the previous game, playing confidently in midfield with important tackles and strong ball distribution. Rating: 8
Pape Matar Sarr
Scored a brilliant curling goal from the edge of the box, leaving Ortega with no chance. Subbed off at halftime with a booking, making way for Bissouma. Rating: 8
Dejan Kulusevski
Delivered a sublime cross for the opener, later adding an assist for Sarr’s goal. Came close to scoring himself, but Ortega’s impressive save denied him. Rating: 9
Brennan Johnson
Limited chances going forward and could have tracked back better for City’s goal. Came close to scoring early in the second half and assisted Kulusevski with a key pass. Rating: 6
Dominic Solanke
Worked tirelessly up front with few scoring opportunities but showed his vision with a brilliant pass setting up Werner in the second half. Rating: 7
Timo Werner
Started on the left and scored the opener with a powerful finish. Involved in the second goal and nearly doubled his tally with a close miss in the second half. Subbed off after a minor injury. Rating: 8
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Substitutes
Destiny Udogie (for Van de Ven, 13)
Came on early, and struggled to intercept Savinho’s cross for City’s goal but showed some good link-up play down the left in the second half. Rating: 7
Yves Bissouma (for Sarr, 46)
Booked soon after coming on but performed admirably, making a crucial goal-line block late in the game. Rating: 8
Ben Davies (for Romero, 52)
Slotted in well at center-back as City pushed forward, solid defensively. Rating: 7
Richarlison (for Werner, 68)
Active on the left, creating chances with his runs. Missed a big opportunity late in the game, showing his disappointment. Rating: 7
Mikey Moore (for Johnson, 68)
Played on the right but had limited opportunities to make an impact on City’s defense. Rating: 5
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