After Manchester City took the lead, Gary Neville suggested the only way they wouldn’t go on to win comfortably was if they lost focus and failed to add a second goal. When Pep Guardiola’s side did strike again, Neville praised them, joking that they had avoided being pulled into what he described as a “charity match” by Spurs.
The remark quickly sparked reactions online. One fan on X called Neville’s comment “cold,” while another laughed it off, agreeing that he was simply saying what many were thinking. A Spurs supporter went even further, likening the match to Soccer Aid and criticising Tottenham’s lack of intensity, branding City’s goals as embarrassingly easy and suggesting Thomas Frank’s time at the club was over.
However, Neville’s comments didn’t sit well with everyone. Some fans accused him of being overly harsh, pointing out Spurs’ injury-hit squad and claiming he has a habit of criticising both Tottenham and Manchester United. Others went as far as calling his commentary disgraceful and questioning Sky Sports for allowing it.
Despite the criticism, Spurs showed some fight after the break when Dominic Solanke forced City’s new signing Marc Guehi into an own goal, giving the hosts renewed hope. Still, if Tottenham fail to take anything from the game, scrutiny over Frank’s future is likely to intensify, even with encouraging Champions League performances in recent weeks.
