Mirror
One team showed there can be life after the England captain and, for the other, here was proof of why they must break the bank to get him.
Tottenham were magnificent as they fought, battled and showed great resilience to overcome Pep Guardiola’s reigning Premier League champions in front of a raucous crowd at White Hart Lane.
Kane did not even make the bench after his summer-long flirtation with Manchester City and the home fans took great delight in bellowing out: “Are you watching Harry Kane?”
Of course there was the excuse that he only returned to training on Friday but Spurs did not need him anyway and City were crying out for him. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy might just have put the price up.
There was no getting away from it. City will not always get things their own way this season. Spurs have refused to sell Kane, they refused to buckle on the pitch as well and fought for this victory with every fibre of their being.
When the final whistle went, the whole place erupted as the home fans made an incredible noise and also showed they are ready to embrace Nuno Espírito Santo’s new era as manager.
For City, there was frustration but the performance highlighted their lack of cutting edge. Guardiola’s team had 66 per cent possession, dominated the first half, had 18 shots but lack a finisher. They have tried so many false nines, they have forgotten what a real one looks like.
Tottenham had so many big performers but the real stand out was Japhet Tanganga, their young right back who was up against Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling who doubled up against him… and still could not beat him.
Sterling was substituted, Grealish got increasingly frustrated and, while City must look at wasteful finishing in the first half, the familiar problems remain.
Perhaps it shows just how good City are that they won the title last season playing most of the campaign without a traditional centre forward and yet, while Chelsea and Manchester United have strengthened, Guardiola must do more.
City are also a big scalp because, with the fans back in capacity stadiums for the first time in 18 months, you could feel Tottenham’s extra ten per cent in trying to beat the champions.
One thing’s for sure, City will not have the title race all their own way. Tottenham, meanwhile, looked fitter, stronger and re-energised by Nuno. They tried about ten different managers before him, but might have stumbled on the right man.
City did come out like a house on fire, pinnin…
