This is the closest you will see City trying to play 0-0 football. I am unsure as to the extent that Guardiola’s selection was governed by injuries, although he did make it clear that Bernardo was a casualty, but a line-up involving Delph is one that is destined to cause problems.
Gone is the one-off exceptional season he had last time out and now we have a player who makes no positive, forward-thinking contribution – every pass was backwards- and one who defended lazily when Son scored the winner for Spurs.
But it should have been so different.