Almost halfway through his second season, Guardiola’s Manchester City team holds a 14-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur — handsomely beaten, 4-1, in Manchester on Saturday — was the last of them, and by no means the easiest. For a few minutes at the start of each half, Mauricio Pochettino’s team — spirited, assertive — appeared to be able to cope with City. It has taken a little longer than he might have liked — and, as he always makes a point of highlighting, nothing is secured yet — but Manchester City is starting to challenge all of that established thinking. Maybe the Premier League is not different at all.

Source: New York Times December 16, 2017 22:52 UTC