Ryan Mason’s Tanguy Ndombele decision backfired for Spurs during Carabao Cup final loss to Man City

Ryan Mason’s declaration that he wanted his team to play “like Tottenham Hotspur” was music to the ears of supporters who had grown weary of Jose Mourinho’s dour tactics.

At Wembley, the 29-year-old quickly discovered that wanting to attack on the front foot and actually being able to do so are very different things, particularly against an opponent as suffocating as Manchester City.

It was City’s fourth Carabao Cup final win in a row and despite the narrow 1-0 scoreline, arguably the most comprehensive of the lot. Pep Guardiola’s side had 62 per cent possession, 21 shots to Tottenham’s two and most striking of all, had an xG (expected goals) score of 2.82 to 0.04.

Tottenham, as they were against Southampton in Mason’s first game, were better after the restart but that will provide no consolation to a club whose trophy drought will extend into a 14th year in 2022. Giovani Lo Celso had their only shot on target in the 47th minute. It also happened to be their final attempt of any description.

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Whereas Harry Kane‘s inclusion, nine days after buckling underneath Richarlison’s body at Goodison Park offered little in the way of shock, the sight of Lo Celso 18 and Winks 8 on the Spurs teamsheet, rather than Ndombele 28, was more of a head-scratcher.

Only Lucas Moura, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Son Heung-min have featured in more Spurs games this season than Ndombele, who recovered from a public tongue-lashing from Mourinho at Turf Moor 13 months ago to become one of his most trusted stars.

It is premature to say that the Frenchman is back to square one under new management after only two games but it is tempting to think so given first Gareth Bale and Moussa Sissoko, then Dele Alli and finally, with one last throw of the dice, Steven Bergwijn, were chucked on at Wembley ahead of him.

Mason hasn’t had sufficient time on the training pitch to transform Spurs from being reactive as they were under Mourinho, to proactive, as they were under Mauricio Pochettino. Perhaps that’s why he set his stall out to counter at Wembley, with Spurs dropping deep from the outset. This wasn’t so much “brave” or “aggressive” as Mason had set out on in his first press conference, but cautious and passive.

Lucas, who was surprisingly withdrawn just past the hour, and a subdued Son, were deployed more centrally in support of Kane than has typically been the case. Defensively, it was to cut off City’s passing lanes through the middle; offensively it was designed to get them running the channels, between centre back and full back.

Twice Lucas was cynically scythed down by match-winner Aymeric Laporte as he went scampering off into City’s half. But Tottenham were unable to gain any meaningful midfield control and on the rare occasions where their midfielders did find the ball at their feet, they were unable to penetrate.

Kane attempted to reprise his great playmaker trick but failed to muster a single effort on goal or create a chance across the entire 90 minutes. Spurs would have benefited from having a lock-picker from deep, like Ndombele, who by some quirk of fate, provided his first three Premier League assists in three separate matches against City, to help Kane out.

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane claps the fans after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - Manchester City claimed a fourth consecutive League Cup on Sunday with a dominant display to beat Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley. (Photo by CARL RECINE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Kane struggled to get into the game at Wembley (Photo: AFP)

There are few players in the Premier League who would be able to put together as compelling a highlight reel as Ndombele’s, the genial genius, whose game revolves around flicks and tricks, dummies and feints and moments of jaw-dropping individual brilliance. Spurs missed his unpredictability at Wembley.

But Ndombele is more than just an extravagant luxury player: Mourinho wouldn’t have picked him otherwise. Only three Spurs players have made more tackles in the Premier League than Ndombele, who has added a steely discipline to his game, even if it isn’t always obvious.

Mason is learning on the job and given the extraordinary events of this week should be immune to criticism. But his decision to omit Ndombele from his starting line-up and fail to summon him from the bench, was one that ultimately backfired.

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