Ange Postecoglou issues warning to Tottenham stars moments after Man City win
Tottenham progressed in the Carabao Cup against Manchester City after goals from Timo Werner and Dejan Kulusevski ensured Matheus Nunes' strike counted for little in north London
by Mike Walters · The MirrorAnge Postecoglou celebrated his best win as Tottenham manager but shrugged: “We are not there yet.”
Spurs held on to end the last unbeaten record in the country in a Carabao Cup thriller against injury-ravaged Manchester City. And after booking a mouth-watering quarter-final with Manchester United, Big Ange said: “My last win is always my best win.
“I want them to have these moments because I know how it can accelerate the group’s progress. In terms of becoming the team we want to be, nothing really changes - we are not there yet.
“But I’m really optimistic about our potential and that we’ve got a really high ceiling.”
After Timo Werner’s first goal of the season and Pape Matar Sarr’s brilliant second, Tottenham had to withstand intense pressure, but Postecoglou said: “City are always going to push you.
“I believe this team is growing all the time. We’ve had our stumbles but we always bounce back. It’s great for Timo. He’s been going through a tough time.”
Tottenham have not won a trophy for 16 years and man of the match Dejan Kulusevski said: "It is important to win and go through the cup. When you play a great time like City you always want to win - I am proud of the boys.
"I always love this game, playing the best teams in the world, I want to be one of the best players in the world. We have to keep going and win every game. We have to keep focused.”
Beaten City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side suffered their first defeat since the FA Cup final, smiled: “Congratulations! This is the news. The news is not that we lost, it’s how for a long time we didn’t lose it.
“Of course there was the FA Cup final but we we were a bit hungover. I don’t like to lose. But this competition is a bit different. I like to see the team, how we behave, the courage and solidarity of how we play
“I like it. It’s only how many players are able, but we have an academy and if it’s serious, we will do it. We are going to Bournemouth to compete.
“Maybe one day we will arrive and we will all be together. That’s why the guys who are here, making an effort to be with us, playing with pain and focus, and living 24 hours for us - these guys I will not forget.”
Guardiola, who had Brazilian winger Savinho carried off with suspected ankle damage, confirmed Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne will all be out until after next month’s International break. And Manuel Akanji withdrew after the warm-up at Tottenham.
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