Man City

City come from two goals down to beat Tottenham 4-2 and close gap on Premier League leaders to five points.

"This type of game with more experience you never lose," said Spurs manager Conte. I don't want to be, I want to beat Arsenal. If we play that way, Arsenal will destroy us." We are a happy flowers organisation. [Arsenal](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/arsenal/) to five points, though the Gunners have a game in hand. [Erling Haaland](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/erling-haaland) and Riyad Mahrez after the interval with Mahrez sealing a rousing comeback with his second goal in injury time.

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City will be 'destroyed' by Arsenal in the Premier League title race if they do not improve despite a stirring second half ...

"This type of game with more experience you never lose," said Spurs manager Conte. I don't want to be, I want to beat Arsenal. We are a happy flowers organisation.

Pep Guardiola has bitten back at what he considers to be “bullsh*t” criticism of Manchester City, but admits his side are a “happy flowers team”.

There are many things that we are far away, far away. But we are far away from the team that we were. We are a happy flowers team, I don't want this.

Manchester City beat Tottenham 4-2 to reduce gap against league leaders Arsenal to 5 points - Anadolu Agency.

[Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Two minutes later, Norwegian star Erling Haaland scored a close-range header to equalize the clash. Home team Man City scored four goals in the second half of the match to shock Spurs.

Manchester City got back to winning ways in thrilling style after coming from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Thursday, a victory that moved ...

Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez look likely to partner in attack for City against Spurs.

Barcelona B), Conte is the only one he’s lost more than half of his games against (60%). ● Tottenham have scored nine goals in their last three Premier League away games, two more than they had in their first six on the road this term (7). Only once in the big five European leagues has he gone 3+ games without scoring, a run of five with Borussia Dortmund between March and April last season. Three of his four goals against ● City lost 2-1 at Manchester United last time out, last losing consecutive league games in December 2018. [Pep Guardiola](https://www.mancity.com/players/pep-guardiola) makes from the 2-1 Manchester derby defeat last weekend. They could become the first ever team to win three consecutive league games against a side managed by Four of [De Bruyne](https://www.mancity.com/players/kevin-de-bruyne), [Laporte](https://www.mancity.com/players/aymeric-laporte), [Bernardo](https://www.mancity.com/players/bernardo-silva), [Foden](https://www.mancity.com/players/phil-foden), Cancelo [Ederson](https://www.mancity.com/players/ederson), Lewis, [Stones](https://www.mancity.com/players/john-stones), Akanji, [Ake](https://www.mancity.com/players/nathan-ake), [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo), [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan) (c), Grealish, [Mahrez](https://www.mancity.com/players/riyad-mahrez), Alvarez, Haaland [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan) may be joined by [Jack Grealish](https://www.mancity.com/players/jack-grealish) - with [Rodrigo](https://www.mancity.com/players/rodrigo) anchoring the midfield. [Rico Lewis](https://www.mancity.com/players/rico-lewis), John [Stones](https://www.mancity.com/players/john-stones), Ilkay [Gundogan](https://www.mancity.com/players/ilkay-gundogan) and [Jack Grealish](https://www.mancity.com/players/jack-grealish) also return.

Haaland has gone three games without a goal; Pep Guardiola says Man City need to find a way to involve him more after the striker had 20 touches in ...

"If you play me as a false nine or Phil Foden, after a game playing in that position it is not easy because you don't touch the ball many times and you get frustrated because you need to touch the ball to feel a part of the game. To have that kind of player who is so focused on just the end of the product is great because he knows what he is there for." Haaland may reduce the number of players involved in the build-up, but that doesn't mean he isn't having an impact. For De Bruyne's he didn't even need to touch the ball. Clearly, it is the forward position in Guardiola's system that sees the least of the ball. His mere presence was enough to bamboozle the opposition. Haaland's positioning differs from Guardiola's previous preference, but it has delivered a rate of 1.35 goals per 90 in the league. Consider his second league appearance in a City shirt as a prime example. Haaland has averaged just 26.9 touches per 90 minutes for City in the Premier League this season. Suddenly, without a goal, Haaland's lack of touches makes it feel as though City are playing with a man down. But City are finding it easier to pass to Alvarez, which suggests that Haaland could be doing more to involve himself in the build-up. Lower than any other player on the pitch that played the full 90 minutes.

Manchester City's night of mood swings ended with a remarkable outpouring from manager Pep Guardiola, writes Phil McNulty.

He said: "We have an opponent in Arsenal who have the fire, almost two decades without winning the Premier League. I want to beat Arsenal. I don't want to be a happy flower. He added: "I want our fans to push us. "The same with the fans. No-one was spared as Guardiola clearly felt victory - "I am incredibly happy.

The Norwegian has had a relatively slow start to 2023 leading to claims that he makes an intricate City team worse.

"At Manchester City he’s in the box, they play balls across the box and he puts it in - he's got a great goal record and we know that - but I think there’s so much more in terms of making runs. "That one against West Ham at the start of the season, we haven’t seen that enough and against Manchester United those centre backs were getting dragged out but then City went back to how they play. [Premier League](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) games and is two goals away from surpassing last season's Golden Boot tally. [Haaland](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/erling-haaland) suppressed inside the borders of the United penalty area, instead dropping deep and trying to link play. I don’t know how many times we talked about City and the end of last season saying they needed a number nine, needed a different option. "In the midfield areas they’ll get their heads up looking for him, and sometimes, at times last season, they would grind teams down - tika taka beautiful football - and it’s just different. He’s been outstanding, he makes them different, not worse." ['Absolute howler' - City fans react after Ederson mistake](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-tottenham-ederson-mistake-26025235) [Julian Alvarez makes Erling Haaland admission](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-city-erling-haaland-alvarez-26021728) [Erling Haaland can use forgotten goal streak to calm City debate](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-tottenham-erling-haaland-26007241) [Kalvin Phillips can solve problem by proving Pep Guardiola right](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kalvin-phillips-man-city-news-26012957) [Pep Guardiola admits City are in top four battle to make title race point](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-arsenal-united-newcastle-26010048) The Norwegian has added a dimension to Guardiola's side that many have demanded in seasons gone by, and former [Liverpool](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc) man Carragher believes both player and team need to find a compromise. [ Erling Haaland wins player of the month award](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-erling-haaland-award-26024655) [City](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc) endured a dismal week that saw them knocked out of the [Carabao Cup](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/carabao-cup) at [Southampton](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/southampton-fc) before Saturday's 2-1 defeat against [Manchester United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc), but managed to round it off with a brilliant 4-2 comeback win at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday - Haaland finding the net in the second half as Pep Guardiola's side came from 2-0 down. That such a performance came two weeks after [Everton](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/everton-fc) managed to keep the Norwegian relatively quiet - his goal a rare victory over the relentless Ben Godfrey - raised questions as to whether the 22-year-old's brutish style diminishes the intricate play of his new team, and while Richards rubbished such claims, he admitted City are a 'different' side with their star striker.

With Manchester City trailing Arsenal by five points in the Premier League table, though, and with Pep Guardiola's side having played a game more, it will not ...

But the idea that Haaland has made Manchester City worse is ludicrous. Only a second-half, Riyad Mahrez-inspired turnaround (in which Haaland scored) did the narrative change. In the long run, when the rest of the sides are functioning as they should, it will be much be a case of different, not worse. In truth, however, it was the changes that the two sides didn't make that have cost them — Liverpool in not getting another midfielder, for sure, and Manchester City, perhaps, rueing not replacing the level of depth in certain areas that they had before. Quite simply, in both cases, the problem is that expectations have not quite matched the reality, and with neither Liverpool nor Manchester City in the position they hoped they would be at this point in the campaign, the biggest changes made last summer are easy targets. Even for 28-goals-in-25-appearances Erling Haaland, there are currently some questions being asked.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants more from his players and the club's fans, who he called out for their silence.City fought back against Totte.

Grealish said: “I thought we did alright in the first half. We had a bit of luck as well but we deserved the win.” “And I say this after 4-2. “We are a happy flowers team. After we scored a goal they react, but that is not the point.” Asked if the fire has gone out after four titles in five years, Guardiola said: “Definitely.

Pep Guardiola didn't hold back in his post-match press conference after his side came from 2-0 behind to beat Tottenham 4-2.

I see Arsenal games and they do everything good, that is why they are in front and deserve it. “The players want it, they train really good but there is something that is here in the clouds. After we scored a goal they react, but that is not the point.” Guardiola added: “We are a happy flowers team. When asked if the fire has gone out after four titles in five years Guardiola added: “Definitely. We played good.

Manchester City fought back from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham Hotspur, but Pep Guardiola wasn't happy with what he saw from his team.

City can still catch Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, but the comeback against Tottenham must be a catalyst for a more coherent second half of the season. The Norwegian has hit the ground running in the Premier League, but offers little in and out of possession. This is perhaps reflected in some of the statistics behind Manchester City’s 2022/23 campaign so far which show they are covering less ground per 90 minutes than they did last season and are also charting fewer out of possession actions per 90 minutes. Manchester City have been a dominant force under Guardiola, winning four Premier League titles in the last five years. He identified a lack of “passion and desire to run” as a problem and contrasted his own side to Arsenal who “have the fire” as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss put it. Maybe it's the same with our team, maybe we are so comfortable with winning four Premier Leagues in five years.”