If Man City want to win the Premier League, they'd better start playing 90 minutes rather than 45
CBSN
Man City's second-half display at Tottenham is a prime example why their Premier League hopes are dwindling, blowing a 2-0 lead and losing complete control
LONDON -- Halftime in a game, Manchester City are leading 2-0, and if you're in attendance, or perhaps just watching on from afar, muscle memory takes over. You know this game is done. They'll ping it about for half an hour, the other team will wear themselves down and then City will add a bit of gloss to the scoreline at the death.
If only, Pep Guardiola might ask himself, such a scenario were as deeply ingrained in his players as it is those who have seen his side dominate English football for the last decade. Right now, his team look like title challengers for 45 minutes, midtable scrappers for the rest. Maybe Tottenham's fightback today says more about the spirit and quality of Thomas Frank's side than it does the limitations of Guardiola's, but I wouldn't be so sure. If these were two points stolen by Spurs, then how to explain those taken by Manchester United, Brighton and Chelsea since the turn of the year.
Something changes when City hear that halftime whistle. Whatever it is, it will probably cost them the Premier League title.
"We talk about it," said Guardiola of his side's issues after the break. "The managers change tactics in the second half. When you played really, really poor in the first, you can make some substitutions and say guys this didn't work, we'll put the wingers narrower or wider or I don't know.
"We started really well, except one transition action in the second half. It was the goal; it changed things a little bit."
