Pep talk falls silent

London, February 3

Steven Bergwijn’s debut goal helped Tottenham to a remarkable 2-0 win over 10-man Manchester City to breathe new life into their challenge for a top-4 finish in the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho’s men had been completely outplayed for the first hour on Sunday, but were kept in the game by City’s profligacy and Hugo Lloris’s first-half penalty save from Ilkay Gundogan.

However, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s sending off changed the course of the game as Spurs scored with their first two shots on goal through Bergwijn and Son Heung-min.

Pep takes swipe at top brass

And Pep Guardiola doesn’t forget. The Spaniard’s mind turned back to 2018 and irritation at comments from the Premier League leadership.

Guardiola’s team winning the league by 19 points prompted Richard Scudamore to express a desire for “someone to get a little bit closer to Manchester City” while also praising the team’s excellence. Scudamore is no longer running the league. Guardiola wonders if the competition bosses are fine with a lead so commanding that Liverpool is in line to seal the title in March with two months of the season remaining. “An owner from the Premier League said that cannot happen again, so it’s not good for the Premier League (that) City win the title in that way with 100 points,” Guardiola said, without naming Scudamore.

Messi, Fati take Levante down

Madrid: Ansu Fati became the youngest player ever to score a brace in La Liga by capitalising on two brilliant Lionel Messi assists to give Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Levante.

Fati, at 17 years and 94 days old, broke the previous record held by Juanmi Jimenez, who scored twice for Malaga against Real Zaragoza at 17 years and 115 days old in 2010. Messi teed up Fati’s quick double with a defence-splitting pass and then a trademark weaving run. — AFP