Tottenham star Serge Aurier slammed for “criminal” mistake during Man City defeat
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Serge Aurier was slammed by former Tottenham stars after his “ridiculous and rash” foul which handed Manchester City a fourth successive Carabao Cup triumph.
City dominated Sunday’s final at Wembley, but couldn’t make their relentless pressure count as they missed chance after chance.
Spurs grew into the game in the second half – but hopes of a smash-and-grab silverware heist were dashed late on when Aymeric Laporte headed home a Kevin de Bruyne free-kick.
Aurier was tasked with repelling the likes of Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling, and the Spurs right-back gave away the decisive free-kick with his needless foul on the latter.
And afterwards he was blasted by former Spurs players Jamie Redknapp and Michael Dawson, who also criticised Moussa Sissoko for his role in the failure to defend the set-piece.
Speaking to Sky Sports , Redknapp said of the foul: “Aurier does well to start with – he follows the one-two and then just makes the most ridiculous and rash decision, that we see him do so often.
“Just stand up, don’t dive in, don’t give the foul away – elementary mistake.
“Then you have a player who’s just come on as a sub – Sissoko – who is telling someone else what to do instead of doing his own job. He doesn’t see the run, his body position is wrong.”
Former Tottenham defender Dawson described Aurier’s foul as “criminal”, pointing out that Sterling was “going nowhere” when he won the free-kick.
“Very disappointing,” said Dawson. “The free-kick from Aurier is criminal. Sterling is going nowhere so he gives Man City an opportunity.
“They haven’t been great at defending crosses all season. Sissoko then gets caught square on, as soon as he does, Laporte has one step, gets in front of him because he doesn’t see and puts it into the bottom corner.”
City’s win ended Spurs’ silverware hopes for another season and turned up the heat on the club’s hopes of keeping hold of Harry Kane.