[ad_pod ]
Spurs face a tough task of playing Manchester City over two legs in the Champions League this month. If Tottenham are to have any success they need to look at what Liverpool did last season when they eliminated the Premier League champions from Europe’s top competition.
The Reds have been the only team to beat Pep Guardiola’s side on a regular basis since the Spaniard took charge and that can partly be attributed to the role of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s role
Deployed in central midfield, the England international never stopped running against City and was constantly harrying their back line, in turn creating chances for his team by forcing the opposition to give away possession in dangerous areas.
This was never more evident than in Liverpool’s win in the first leg; the Ox pressed their midfield and backline intently, forcing them into mistakes and misplaced passes which allowed his team to race into a 3-0 lead, the second goal coming courtesy of Chamberlain himself.
Check out the latest hilarious video by 442oons in the video below…
Sissoko’s duties
Moussa Sissoko needs to have studied this performance in preparation for the upcoming games in the Champions League. The Frenchman possesses the speed, physical presence and stamina to complete this role to a high standard and that is exactly what Spurs need to win on Tuesday night.
Sissoko must press high and run for the full 90 minutes in the same way his Liverpool counterpart did 12 months ago. He has to be a nuisance for City as they try to play out of the back, and find positive passes whenever he wins the ball.
It is easier said than done as the reigning Premier League champions are likely to have learnt from their mistakes last year and will have planned for this very scenario as soon as the draw was made.
As of this match though the only team who have found a way to beat Guardiola’s City on a consistent basis is Klopp’s outfit, and the role that Oxlade-Chamberlain played in those wins was vital.
Pochettino would be a fool not to attempt duplicating that role with Sissoko for these fixtures. The Frenchman has all the attributes required to shut down City in the same way the Liverpool star did this time last year and it would be a waste to not deploy him in the same manner.