Tottenham star Moussa Sissoko has revealed that Mauricio Pochettino showed his players videos of Liverpool AND Brighton as they plotted to unhinge Manchester City.
Spurs beat the Blues 1-0 in the quarter-final first leg, with the midfielder having a fine game.
And he later revealed that they set out to “tickle their ankles” - even though City have been portrayed in some quarters as aggressors in the game.
Sissoko said that Pochettino had shown them videos of Liverpool’s two wins over the Blues at the same stage of last season’s competition – and of the way Brighton unsettled them at Wembley on Saturday.
City have been criticised in some quarters for an aggressive approach, with Harry Kane getting some vigorous challenges – but eventually being forced off – and out of the second leg and the league game at City three days later – in an accidental clash with Fabian Delph.
But Sissoko admitted that Spurs had set about roughing up the Blues to try to knock them out of their rhythm.
“It was a great performance from the team, against one of the best sides in Europe,” said the France international.
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“We did things well and followed our game plan, which was to defend well and not throw ourselves forwards too much.
“We played with a lot of intensity, because they don't like it much when you tickle their ankles a bit.
“We had a plan and it was to be compact, try to be tight on them and try to be aggressive. We needed to try to help each other and try when we can to play.
“That is what we did and they did not have too many chances. For a team like City, that is not normal so we can be proud of our performance.
“We have done what the manager wanted us to do and that is why we won the game. Like I said, we have the second leg in a week or something like that so we have to be ready for that.”
Pochettino did show clips of teams that have given City trouble.
Sissoko said: “The gaffer showed us some videos of different teams against them.
“We knew how they can struggle sometimes and that is what we have done. We played well and that is why they did not create so many chances.
“They were videos of different teams. Liverpool, Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday in their last game.
“They conceded some chances and that is what we were looking at. It worked for us, so that is good.”
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