Friday, October 4, 2024
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Recap build-up to Tottenham v Man City, plus Premier League news conferences – BBC.com

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Build-up as Tottenham host title-chasing Manchester City (20:00 BST)
A City draw or defeat will hand the advantage to Arsenal in title chase with one game remaining
Spurs v Man City: Do Spurs fans want their team to lose? How big is tonight's game?
Varane to leave Manchester United
Ten Hag: Fernandes is a 'very important player for us'
Pochettino: 'To be in Europe would be amazing for us'
Team news: Isak and Wilson doubts, Martinez to return for Man Utd, Chilwell & Chukwuemeka close to return
Beever-Jones called-up as Lionesses squad announced for Euro 25 qualifiers
Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Craig Nelson, Grace Wheeler and Sam Drury
That's it from us for today. Thanks for joining and for all your input on Raphael Varane, Joe Gomez and, predominantly, tonight's big, potentially title-deciding, game between Tottenham and Manchester City.
While we're signing off, we have a crack team currently going through their pre-match preparations to keep you up-to-date with all the action from that game.
We'll be back tomorrow with all the reaction. By then the Premier League title picture will look a whole lot clearer.
If that is not enough to give you your football fix in the meantime, here are a couple of football stories to keep you going…
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City players will be tense ahead of their crucial game at Tottenham tonight – but he wouldn't have it any other way.
City are going for a fourth Premier League title in a row and a sixth in seven years but the nerves still persist.
"We will feel the tension and the nerves. Of course we will feel it, otherwise it would be a bad sign," he told reporters.
"Every game I feel the right tension, but at the same time I focus on what to do and read what is happening in the game.
"I try to not be so excited to take bad decisions and make my players a little bit anxious for my behaviour; sometimes it happened unfortunately for me and the team.
"I don't think any competitive football player or manager is numb and relaxed, saying: 'It doesn't matter'. Of course we know what we are playing for.
"It is like a quarter-final, semi-final second-leg Champions League or FA Cup. It is something you can't get back so it's simple. Win – OK. Lose – bye, bye. So not very complicated."
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
As a Spurs fan I expect nothing less than an absolute drubbing tonight. I will go further, I do not even expect a win on Sunday. Our wait for silverware will go on and on until Levy departs and we get some serious investment into the squad. New stadium with an empty trophy room!!!
Phil
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
Normally the half and half scarf is derided. This one might be rather more popular than usual…
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I’ll be at the game tonight. Decided to wear my "lucky" sky blue Spurs shirt. We have lost on each five occasions that I’ve worn it. Confused? So am I!!
Peter Tz
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
Theo Walcott
Former Arsenal and Southampton forward on BBC Radio 5 Live

Theo Walcott on what it is like playing against Man City knowing they have a belief they will beat anybody: "They starve you off the ball, they frustrate you, they wait until one player is off and then they punish you, it is that instant.
"The have players all around the field that can do that, they are that aware of a player switching off.
"That's the difference, they play at such a high level and intensity that others don't.
"They are not a selfish team they are winners and look at the bigger picture."
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
I disagree with Greggo, Blackpool (15:11). Manchester City haven't completely dominated as Arsenal and Liverpool have been in close contention and just because we may win it for the fourth time doesn't mean it's bad for football, look at Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid. Manchester City have increased the quality of football in the Premier League.
Anon
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
If Manchester City do go on to win the Premier League, they would make history as the first English team to win four league titles in a row.
"In the beginning of the season we don't think at all about four Premier Leagues," Pep Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
"But the moment you don't think City (can) win one Premier League I go home. If we are in February, March, April, it's in our heads that no team has done it. That shows how difficult it is.
"Liverpool in the 80s, Sir Alex Ferguson in the 90s, Chelsea with (Roman) Abramovich and Arsenal with (Arsene) Wenger haven't done it.
"Opponents are better, (there are) injuries, many circumstances that mean you can't do it."
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Spurs fan here, cannot bear the thought of Arsenal winning the PL, but I'm with Ange on this one and we should not be wishing our team to lose. COYS.
Lisa watching the match in Dubai
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
Head-to-head
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City
I refer you to our very handy article on the title race here, Tom.
The relevant section is below but, in short, Arsenal having a better head-to-head record over City means there cannot be a play-off for the title this season.
What if the teams finish level on points?
Should there be a tie, the league is decided on goal difference, then goals scored, then most points in the head-to-head matches, then most away goals in the head-to-head record.
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Am I correct in saying if City draw 0-0 tonight, then on the final day win 4-0 and Arsenal win 6-5, there’d be a playoff for the title?
Tom in Paris
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
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Ange Postecoglou – '100% of supporters want us to win' against Manchester City
Ange Postecoglou will "never understand" any Tottenham fans wanting their own team to lose even if it helped deny Arsenal the Premier League title.
A win or draw for Tottenham against Manchester City would put north London rivals Arsenal in pole position to finish ahead of Pep Guardiola's side.
"I understand rivalry. I was part of one of the biggest ones in the world in the last couple of years with Celtic and Rangers," the Spurs boss said.
"But I've never, and will never, understand if someone wants their own team to lose. That's not what sport is about. It's not what I love about the game.
"Real success looks like trophies. Anything else in between, bragging rights, whatever, it is absolutely meaningless to me.
"What do you think is going to happen? What do you think we are going to do as a team, or any team on this planet? Aren't we going to just try to win? It's a simple premise. How that makes people feel, I'm not really fussed and I don't really care."
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Don’t know why Spurs fans are fretting. I predict a draw tonight, Arsenal win by a goal at the weekend and City spanking in 5+ goals with no reply to win the league on goal difference.
JD
Is that Liverpool's Premier League and Champions League winner Joe Gomez that you're referring to, Nazre?
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
If Liverpool want to properly compete for the Premier League and Champions League regularly, there is no footballing question to which the answer is "Joe Gomez" (see also Man Utd and Victor Lindelof)
Nazre, London
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
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Pep Guardiola learns about Sir Alex Ferguson's phrase 'Squeaky Bum Time'
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was left puzzled by a reporter's question about "squeaky bum time" before the match against Tottenham.
For the uninitiated, the phrase was used by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to describe the pressure of the final weeks of a season.
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Never wanted to see Spurs lose before. Very much do this evening! Come on you CITY!!!
Andy, Hertfordshire
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
But this Opta graphic, external perfectly demonstrates the importance of tonight's game and the impact each result could have on both side's chances.
If Manchester City win at Tottenham then the title is all but theirs (84%), but any other result and Arsenal suddenly become big favourites, with a Spurs win pushing the Gunners' chances of lifting the title to 81% and a draw giving them a 75% chance of being crowned champions.
So any chink in City's armour and Arsenal will be perfectly poised to go in for the kill.
But Pep Guardiola's side have a habit of doing what it takes to get the job done…five titles in the last six seasons is proof of that.
Tottenham v Man City (20:00 BST)
Manchester City are sitting in the box seat in the title race going into tonight's game at Tottenham.
According to the latest statistics from Nielsen's Gracenote, City currently have a 60% chance of clinching a record fourth consecutive Premier League title, while Arsenal have a 40% chance of being crowned champions for the first time in 20 years.
But Simon Gleave, head of analysis for Nielsen's Gracenote, said that Arsenal's chances have improved in the run-in, after a run of five consecutive wins culminated with victory at Manchester United on Sunday.
"Arsenal's chance of winning the Premier League is now at the highest level it has been all season. The Gunners have never been favourites to win the league this season. The closest they have come was at Christmas time when Manchester City were given 31% chance by our Euro Club Index, with Arsenal and Liverpool both on 30%."
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