Pep Guardiola gave one Tottenham star some praise in private this season
Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence has finally revealed what Pep Guardiola told him after Manchester City edged past Spurs with a narrow 1-0 win in February.
Tottenham Hotspur have faced Manchester City three times already this season. Of those encounters, Ange Postecoglou’s men came out on top twice—first with a 2-1 win in the Carabao Cup and then with a stunning 4-0 victory at the Etihad in the Premier League.
However, the return fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw City edge a 1-0 win, handing Spurs their only defeat in February, a month in which they won three out of four matches.
Despite the loss, Tottenham showed plenty of positives, and one player who particularly caught the eye during that period was Djed Spence.
What Pep Guardiola told Djed Spence after Tottenham’s loss to Man City
The English full-back was in top form in February, with Spence’s performances earning him a nomination for the Player of the Month award.
Although he started on the bench against City, his impact after coming on clearly caught Guardiola’s attention, as the City boss sought him out after the game for a quick chat.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, the Tottenham defender has finally revealed what was said between them. “He gave me a hard smack as well, to be fair,” Spence recalled.
“He was just like, ‘Oh, you play like this? You come on and play like this? You run and run and you play like this against my team?’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ that sort of thing.
“And he was like: ‘It’s good. You weren’t playing, now you’re playing, it’s good. Well done!’”
Guardiola also mentioned the exchange between him and Spence at full-time in his post-match interview, acknowledging the full-back’s performance and the energy he brought to the game.
A turning point for Spence at Spurs?
For Spence, hearing such praise from a manager widely regarded as one of the best in the game must have been a special moment.
It’s no secret that under Antonio Conte, the full-back struggled for opportunities, and he Djed Spence admitted that a lack of praise during Conte’s tenure knocked his confidence.
However, under Postecoglou, he looks revitalised. His confidence is back, his performances are improving, and he’s edging closer to being an undroppable figure in this Tottenham side.
| Season | Competition | Matches Played | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/25 | Total | 24 | 1,680′ |
| Premier League | 16 | 1,064′ | |
| EFL Cup | 4 | 315′ | |
| UEFA Europa League | 2 | 180′ | |
| FA Cup | 2 | 121′ | |
| 22/23 | Total | 8 | 253′ |
| Premier League | 4 | 5′ | |
| UEFA Europa League | 2 | 210′ | |
| FA Cup | 1 | 13′ | |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 25′ |
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