Tottenham Hotspur: Manchester City at home in the FA Cup
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00:00 And finally, in the FA Cup, as you mentioned, Spurs progressing against Burnley, a Pedro
00:07 Porro wonder goal that sent you through in the end. Although Burnley did have a couple
00:11 of big chances right towards the end and it was probably heart and mouth moment. But Spurs
00:17 have drawn Manchester City in the fourth round, although they are at home, which of course
00:21 is an advantage. And in fairness, Spurs have quite a good record at home to Manchester
00:25 City of recent years. So, I think we said just before the call started, if you want
00:30 to be the best, you have to beat the best, James. And so, very much a case of it in this
00:33 fixture.
00:34 Yes, I mean, I'd have rather it not been in Round 4 of the FA Cup, to be perfectly honest
00:38 with you. I was really excited and looking forward to the draw until Gary Mabert pulled
00:43 out number 21, I think it was, which was Manchester City, which was a bit ironic, being our last
00:48 FA Cup winning captain, to draw us the tie of the round, if you like. I mean, look, Man
00:54 City are a fantastic team, aren't they? They're winning everything, they've just come back
00:58 from winning the World Club Cup and they're just starting to hit the straps, you know,
01:01 after a bit of an indifferent start to the season, I think it's fair to say. I mean,
01:06 how they keep motivated after winning the treble, it must be very, very difficult. But
01:10 they are looking like they're bouncing back to some kind of form. So, you know, it's going
01:15 to be a tough game. They don't come any tougher than Manchester City. The plus side is we're
01:20 at home and as you just referenced there, Manchester City have been to the top of the
01:24 Motspur Stadium five times, they've suffered five defeats and haven't scored a goal yet,
01:27 despite outplaying us on numerous occasions. So, you know, if there's an omen there, then
01:32 that potentially could be a good one. And as you say, if you want to be the best, you've
01:37 got to beat the best and if we could get one over on them, you know, with the home crowd
01:41 behind us, it'd be a brilliant sort of galvanising effect, potentially not just for the FA Cup
01:47 campaign, but for the league season. So, you know, I think the team selection was really
01:51 interesting from Possokoglou in the third round against Burnley. You know, we went very,
01:56 very strong, pretty much the full strength team that he could have picked, you know,
01:59 despite all the injuries. You're right, it was probably one of the worst performances
02:02 actually. We were pretty flat. Burnley had some excellent chances and they should have
02:07 levelled it right at the death. But nonetheless, you know, Pedro Porro scored an absolute wonder
02:12 goal and, you know, just rewards as well. He's been outstanding this season. I think
02:16 he's been one of our unsung heroes, really. Lots of questions over whether Porro could
02:20 play as a full back in the Possokoglou system, having been brought in as a wing back, obviously,
02:25 with Antonio Conte. But, you know, the defensive side of his game has been absolutely superb
02:29 and, you know, he's got a handful of assists and now adding a goal to his game and it was
02:34 a strike worthy of winning any game, wasn't it? What a fantastic effort from the edge
02:38 of the box. It was an absolute cracker and worthy of winning any game, really. So, you
02:43 know, we got into the hat. It wasn't convincing, but, you know, we're into the next round and,
02:47 you know, we look forward to Manchester City, as I say. I'd have preferred an easier draw.
02:51 It'd have been nice to get one of the lower league teams at home, no disrespect to them,
02:55 but just to get us into the next round. But, you know, tie the round, as I say, and it
03:00 should be an exciting game. And as I say, we have got the hoodoo on Manchester City.
03:05 We scraped a three-all draw somehow from the jaws of defeat at the Etihad earlier in the
03:09 season, didn't we? So, it'll be really interesting. We actually play them pretty close after in
03:13 the league as well. So, perhaps a good barometer as to how we'll get on. But hopefully we get
03:19 a few injuries back. There's Thorpe Madison might be back for that game, which would be
03:22 massive. You know, hopefully Van der Ven will be fully up to speed with him coming back
03:26 from his hamstring injury. Cristian Romero too. And then as we've just been speaking
03:31 about, you know, you add Werner into the mix, Dragas in potentially and, you know, who knows
03:34 what else the transfer window will bring as well. I think Spurs still looking for other
03:39 opportunities I think, should anything arise. Conor Gallagher's been linked with a move
03:43 from Chelsea, which is quite an interesting one actually. He's actually captain in Chelsea
03:48 at the moment, but he would be a terrific number six. He's got a brilliant engine. And
03:51 if you go back to his time with Crystal Palace, he was a real player on lots of people's radar.
03:56 So, that'll be an interesting one. Just one to watch. I think possibly more likely to
04:00 move in the summer if he is going to move. I don't think Pochettino's keen on losing
04:05 him, but obviously financial fair play may take that out of his hands. So, we'll see
04:09 what happens there and any other opportunities that crop up and that may well see a couple
04:13 of departures as well with Hojbjerg potentially heading out as well. So, lots going on.
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