Goal is ‘Dier’ for City

BACARY Sagna has blamed Tottenham being awarded a goal from an offside position for Manchester City’s 4–1 Premier League defeat at White Hart Lane.

Having gone ahead through Kevin de Bruyne’s first–half goal, City were on the stroke of taking a promising lead into half–time when Eric Dier equalised despite Kyle Walker being clearly offside in the build–up to him doing so.

The balance of play shifted in Tottenham’s favour - and Spurs scored three times as the visitors disappointed throughout the second half.

Sagna, also revealing a concern that City had previously been over–confident in their chances of success this season, believes the decision to allow Dier’s goal to stand to have been crucial.

“I think it changed the game,” Sagna said. “It’s not an excuse, but we were in control of the game, we managed to score, play well, as a team, to be compact and to create some chances. We should have killed the game. Everyone was upset at the equalising goal. We gave a lot to be 1–0 up and then to concede a stupid goal.”

“Maybe we have shown too much confidence. We had to keep working hard if we want to stay on top. We know we have the quality players to make a difference, we know we are a good team, we know we can be champions.”

City travel to Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, before hosting Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday ahead of the international football break.