For the second consecutive year, Tottenham triumphed in Etihad and defeated Manchester City with a composed and clinical version to end the 10-game unbeaten line of City in the Premier League.
Spurs are just the second side that wins for a Pep Guardiola-managed team in back-to-back seasons. And this one was reached way too easily.
City fans left the Etihad on Saturday with more questions than answers after a performance that was the full antithesis of last weekend's victory over Wolves.
Creative, smooth patterns that led to opportunities for scoring goals were replaced by fantasy, misguided passes, which resulted in very little positive. City that is impressed for the majority, but you have to wonder how much of that underperformance was due to the organized and aggressive game plan of Spurs.
From the first time that James Trafford was offered the ball in open game, it was clear that Thomas Frank had dedicated his players to hurry the city box. Richarlison almost took the ball from his toe in the ninth minute of the game. They swarmed in packs and never had the city established, so they eventually force the mistake for Joao Palhinha to score a well -timed second goal. City had no answer.
The visitors were satisfied with possession, but hit the city where it hurt, with more efforts on goal and a larger number of shots on goal. Each of the two great opportunities they created ended in a goal. The two -male city generated ended in a miss.
City was confronted with a team that looked more confident and insured them in their specific roles, as they had played in this way for years. As if it came naturally.
Cristian Romero did a song on Erling Haaland. Palhinha, who won more duels than any other player, and Rodrigo Bentancur was more assertive than Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez in midfield. Mohammed Kudus direct in attack.
“I feel that the performance was a little better than the result,” Guardiola generated generously. His reading of the game will be incompatible with most others.
Saturday's result was not only a statement victory for the Frank Regime, but also a triumph of management style.
After also won with Brentford in November 2022, Frank only becomes the third manager who wealthy Guardiola from home with two different clubs. There is no coincidence in that. “I absolutely believe in the aggressive press, as you saw today, and as you saw with my Brentford team.
“I believe that I am in the front. I love that mentality, it is a more offensive way to defend. It is more fun to defend on half of the opponent. So yes, let's go for it.”
Spurs may have started the campaign under the very Spursy contradiction that they have endured their worst domestic season for almost 50 years, while at the same time landing a first trophy since 2008, but Frank wants to change the perceptions for good.
“We have worked so hard on our defensive principles. Mentality is the most important – you need mentality to win games like this,” he added after the game.
Tottenham has long been mocked due to an absence of big game mindset. The term Spursy is rooted in that too well-known shortcoming, clearly only three weeks ago in Super Cup defeat against PSG after blowing a 2-0 lead.
But they passed on the real sour test with flag and pennant in this opening for two weeks, with Frank's fingerprint also over the 3-0 downing of Burnley.
Even failed activities for a NR. 10 to sign – which Ebereechi Eze only lost to Arsenal this week – did not derail the focus. The creative side of Spurs seemed and scores five times, while registering two clean sheets.
Six points and a goal difference of +5 represent their best start of a competition season. A small sample size, yes, but a major change in identity and determination. The question now will be: how long can it take?