Tottenham Hotspur brought the Premier League weekend to a close on Sunday evening with an absorbing clash at home to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. For much of the contest, Spurs appeared headed for defeat, but a determined second-half revival ensured the spoils were shared in north London.
City seemed firmly in command after taking a two-goal lead before the break, with Rayan Cherki and January arrival Antoine Semenyo finding the net. However, Tottenham showed character after the restart, pushing back against Guardiola’s title-chasing side and preventing them from claiming all three points.
The visitors made their authority felt early. Just over ten minutes in, Bernardo Silva slipped a precise pass into Erling Haaland, who selflessly squared for Cherki. The winger cut inside onto his right foot and sent a low effort into the bottom corner, leaving Guglielmo Vicario with no chance.
Spurs failed to gain any real foothold in the game and were punished again moments before half-time. Prolonged City pressure eventually told as Semenyo reacted quickest inside the box to convert and double the advantage, leaving Tottenham facing a steep uphill battle.
Hope arrived when Dominic Solanke appeared to reduce the deficit after some tidy play in the City area, although the goal was later credited as a Marc Guehi own goal following a deflection that wrong-footed Gianluigi Donnarumma. Regardless, the moment lifted a Spurs side that had looked subdued in the opening half.
Seventeen minutes later, the hosts were level. Solanke redeemed himself in spectacular style, improvising a scorpion-like finish that sailed over Donnarumma and into the net, sparking wild celebrations inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs pressed for a winner, but despite late chances at both ends, neither side could find a decisive goal.
Before the turnaround, though, Tottenham had been far from convincing. The midfield pairing of Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma struggled to impose themselves, often surrendering possession too easily.
Solanke frequently cut a lonely figure up front, while Vicario looked uncertain when dealing with crosses and loose balls. Much of the focus, however, fell on Radu Dragusin. Signed from Genoa in January 2024 as a long-term project, the Romanian defender has endured a difficult spell in north London and continues to sit behind Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the centre-back hierarchy under both Ange Postecoglou and current boss Thomas Frank.
Across two seasons, Dragusin has managed just 39 appearances, accumulating 2,610 minutes, largely from the bench. Having only recently returned from a cruciate ligament injury in December, he had played a mere six minutes of Premier League football before City’s visit. With Van de Ven unavailable, Frank handed him his first league start in more than a year.
City’s front line of Cherki, Haaland and Semenyo constantly targeted Spurs’ back line, exposing Dragusin’s lack of match sharpness. His positioning, timing and confidence were repeatedly tested by Guardiola’s relentless attacking approach.
That said, context matters. Tottenham were missing 12 players through injury, leaving Frank short of alternatives. Dragusin had scarcely featured for months, and deploying him in a game of such intensity was always a gamble.
Even so, his performance has fuelled fresh debate over his future. Roma are reportedly keen on the Romania international, initially exploring a loan move until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. His agent, Florin Manea, has previously pushed for a transfer, although no agreement has yet been reached.
Among Spurs fans, the sense that Dragusin may need a fresh start is growing. Reaction online after Sunday’s draw was unforgiving, with many supporters pointing to him as culpable for City’s goals and questioning his suitability at the club.
While some of the criticism may be excessive, it underlines the scrutiny surrounding his situation at Tottenham. Beyond Dragusin’s difficulties, the broader concern for Spurs is clear. With Champions League action not resuming until March, Frank’s side must now concentrate fully on domestic matters. Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League, Tottenham need consistency, solidity and results to steer clear of relegation worries and move back toward the top half.
For a club that aspires to compete in Europe, merely surviving cannot become the storyline — and the shaky first-half display against City served as a stark reminder of how vulnerable Spurs remain.
