Pep Guardiola names ‘quality’ Tottenham duo who helped beat Man City

Pep Guardiola admits his Manchester City side couldn’t handle Tottenham duo James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

The Premier League champions suffered a fifth successive defeat after being beaten 4-0 by Spurs, extending an already unprecedented run of poor form for Guardiola.

The City boss had never lost four games in a row before and the heavy home defeat plunged his team further into crisis.

It is the first time the club have suffered five defeats in a row since 2006, while they also lost their 52-match unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs were unleashed on a City team which faded after a promising opening of around ten minutes, during which Erling Haaland missed a few presentable chances.

Maddison, celebrating his 28th birthday, scored a brace while Kulusevski pulled the strings from a wide position after being brought down by manager Ange Postecoglou after what had been a productive spell in the middle of the park.

Double: James Maddison scored a double on his birthday (Action Images via Reuters)Double: James Maddison scored a double on his birthday (Action Images via Reuters)

Double: James Maddison scored a double on his birthday (Action Images via Reuters)

After the match, Guardiola admitted that the two men had punished his team.

“We’re a little fragile now,” he said.

“We started really well and couldn’t score. And the first time they arrive [in our box] they score.

“Of course, the quality of Kulusevski and Maddison was good.”

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