'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Just hours left for the much-anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash between Tottenham and Manchester City at Spurs' brand new stadium. The Citizens would pull their socks up for the contest as they were dumped out of the competition at this stage last season by Liverpool. Plus, this season they have a realistic chance of winning the unprecedented quadruple.
But Tottenham won't be an easy opposition by any stretch of the imagination. They sailed past Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 but in the group stages, they had to work their tails off to get through to the knockouts. Let us look at five players who will decide the game tonight.
#5 Kieran Trippier
The Englishman had an astounding showing in the World Cup with his national side and has been a mainstay in Mauricio Pochettino's team this season. Tonight, he faces a big challenge at home against the blistering wingers of Manchester City.
Manchester City have two of the most lethal wingers in the Premier League in Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane. We don't know who will start at left-wing but one of the two definitely will. Sterling is in the running to win the Premier League Player of the Year award and needs to be dealt with by Tottenham. Since it is a direct face-off with Trippier, Spurs need their right-back to put in a solid display.
Even offensively Trippier would have his work cut out with Aymeric Laporte possibly starting at the left-back spot. He would need to beat the defensive girth of Laporte and still be good enough to provide crosses into the box. If Heung-min Son starts, then the pressure would ease a bit on Trippier but then again he needs to be linking up well with the South Korean.
Trippier's performance could make or break it for Tottenham tonight.
#4 Raheem Sterling
Now since we have talked about Trippier's role, let us analyse this man as well. Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk said yesterday that his PFA Player of the Year vote went to Sterling. He has been that good this season. This could be Sterling's best season in a City shirt. But now is the defining time for his team, with a lot of tough fixtures coming up, starting with tonight's Champions League clash with Spurs.
Sterling could be deployed on either wing. He favours the right side but that wouldn't be any reason for Pep Guardiola to not shift him to the other side. His direct face-off comes against the brilliant right-back and his English team-mate Trippier if he plays on the left wing.
Sterling has got 8 goals and 2 assists in his last 7 appearances for both club and country.
#3 Aymeric Laporte
Manchester City's rock at the back of the defence - this man has been brilliant in his second season at the club. He helps to push the defensive line up, he is comfortable on the ball and he is a good passer. Laporte is perfectly suited to bypass the press of the opponents. But most of his appearances have come at the center-back spot.
Against Tottenham, he might have to play in the left-back spot since Oleksandr Zinchenko is not available and Benjamin Mendy, who just returned from an injury lay-off, played 79 minutes against Brighton the other day in the FA Cup. Laporte made 90 out of 96 attempted passes against Brighton. Incidentally, Laporte played as a left-back against Everton in a game which City won 2-0. The Spaniard won 5 aerials, made 4 tackles, had 95 touches of the ball - the most in a City shirt, and he deservedly won the Man of the Match award.
Trippier, Son or both could be up against Laporte if he plays as a left-back, but he would be looking to bring the house down in north London.
#2 Harry Kane
Tottenham's perennial source for scoring goals, Harry Kane is a magnificent striker and he is a great leader too. Manchester City's defence are one of the strongest in Europe, even though their attack is more well-known. John Stones, Laporte, Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi - this could be the expected back-four against Tottenham.
Kane's role will be the obvious one - to play as a number 9, make runs in behind the defence, make himself available to passes, and most importantly to finish every little chance that comes his way. City's defence is actually too good to let any through ball slip by and if they do, it needs to have a magic touch. Christian Eriksen is the only Spurs player who could provide that magic touch. So, Kane needs to be involved in the build-up a lot more than he is actually involved.
He has not lost his scoring boots anywhere, getting 5 goals in 7 Champions League appearances this season, including 1 against FC Barcelona. He has also got 6 goals in his last 9 appearances. Goals win games, and Kane is Spurs' best bet for scoring a goal.
#1 Bernardo Silva
Possibly Manchester City's second-best player this season after Sterling. Bernardo Silva has improvised a lot this season than the last one. He has been asked to operate in the half-space as a midfielder and he has been magical. Nobody really felt Kevin de Bruyne's absence due to this man, that is how good he has been. At this moment, he is better than the Belgian in the midfield.
Playing in the midfield, he has got 3 goals and an assist in three starts for Manchester City in the Champions League. He has also got 3 goals and 3 assists in his past 4 games with the Premier League leaders. And this is without stating that he won the MOTM award against Swansea and Fulham.
Silva could play as a midfielder or a right-winger. He played in the right wing against Fulham and made 88% passes successfully with 4 key passes. He might need to score, he might need to assist, he might have to dribble and tackle too. Spurs are a tricky opponent and this is the first time City are visiting their new stadium.
Since the width of the pitch would not be helpful to Sterling, who likes to stretch it out and rampage through the defence, it would be Silva's turn to show how it's done with a narrow pitch, just like he operates in the half-space.
