How Man City played through the lines against Spurs to win the EFL Cup Final – tactical analysis

With all the hype and drama surrounding the proposed Super League, Jose Mourinho’s sacking as Tottenham’s head coach just a few days before the EFL Cup Final probably did not receive as much attention as it should have. Although Ryan Mason did win his first game in charge against Southampton in the Premier League, the final was only his second game in charge in his entire managerial career. This was in stark contrast to Pep Guardiola, who was now in his fourth consecutive EFL Cup final with Manchester City. Guardiola had overcome city rivals Manchester United in the previous round with relative ease and were surely the favorites heading into the tie. The odds were heavily stacked against Spurs, and in this tactical analysis we take a look at the tactics of both Manchester City and Spurs and our analysis will show how Guardiola’s tactics saw City win their first trophy of the season.

Lineups

City’s use of positional play has rendered their starting formation irrelevant, but Zack Steffen started in goal, with Kyle Walker, Rúben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, and João Cancelo starting in defense. Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling started as the wingers with Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, and İlkay Gündoğan starting in central midfield. On paper, Phil Foden led the line.

For Spurs, it was the 4-3-3, with Hugo Lloris in goal, behind Serge Aurier, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, and Sergio Reguilón in defense. Harry Winks, Giovani Lo Celso, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg started in midfield, with Tanguy Ndombele surprisingly left on the bench. Upfront, it was the trio of Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane, and Lucan Moura that led the attack.