Man City player ratings! Spurs 1- 0 Man City

Ederson – 6

Did not have much to do apart from a misjudged call to collect the ball from a Spurs set peice. He had no chance with the Son goal. I thought that he could have played more risky pases to try and break Spurs defense

Benjamin Mendy – 4 (Poorest performance of the match)

He was wasteful while going forward and looked cluless defensively. Did not know when to invert and when to stay wide. He always had space to operate in, but was miserable in taking advantage of it.

Nathan Ake – 7

Had a great game defensively and looked solid in almost all the one on one situations. It would be unfair to fault him for Son’s goal as he showed Son onto his weaker foot, which was all any defender could have done. Maybe he could have offered a bit more creativity in passing out from the back.

Ruben Dias – 7

Had a very solid game and snuffed out all the attacks that came his way. His trademark blocks were on display and he looked very confident in one on one situations. His passing demanded more creativity and he was too often very predictable with his diagonal ball over the top to raheem sterling.

Joao Cancelo – 8 (City’s man of the match)

He was exceptional in both attacking and defensive aspects. Made a couple of very important blocks and put in some decent croses whenever he was given the ball. The only problem was that City were not able to get him on the ball very often. Also, most of the time he was tucking in as a 3rd central defender and this meant that he was not given the attacking freedom to venture forward too often.

Fernandinho – 5

Looks like age is finally catching up with Dinho. He looked legged and confused in the midfield. Strangely he did not commit any tactical fouls and take his customary yellow card. This was the most unlike Fernandinho performance in years. Pep will have to use him very wisely this season. Was at fault for the transition that led to Son’s goal.

Gundogan – 6

Gundogan had to drop deep at times to get onto the ball. This was because the front three of spurs were covering fernandinho well and blocking off the passing lanes. In the second half we noticed how effective gundogan can be when he almost scored a goal with a wonderful cruyff turn. Apart from that his usual passing mojo was absent and he looked lost and pedestrian at times.

Grealish – 6

Tried to take things into his hands and he completed a few dribbles succesfully. His fluid interchanging of positions with sterling did not work out very well and he faded away as the match went on. It was only after De Bruyne was bought on, Grealish sparked back into life with some quick one twos. Had a very low key debut and City fans will be expecting far more greater things from him.

Mahrez – 6

Sacrificed himself for the team by maintaining that width on the right side. He was not his usual self and did not get onto the ball much. His trademark one on one situations were also absent. Strangely he did not shoot from outside the box as much as he generally does.

Sterling – 4.5

Along with Mendy, was the worst player on the pitch. He had all kinds of space to run at defenders on that left flank. Had many one on ones with Tanganga and was very wasteful in getting anything out of them. It was very frustrating to see him run with the ball into the box and get nothing out of the attack. Flashed across only one good ball for mahrez all game. The left flank was dreadful for City in this game.

Ferran Torres- 5.5

Looked lost among the physicality of Spur’s defenders. Tried his best to get onto the ball, but City were woeful creatively and he was not getting the usual service. It was only when De Bruyne came that he got a gilt edged chance and narrowly missed it.