Mohammed Kudus’ performance for Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City on August 23, 2025, drew varied reactions from sports experts and observers, reflecting both praise for his dynamic play and constructive criticism for areas needing improvement.
Kudus was a standout in Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Despite not scoring or assisting, his relentless energy, physicality, and ability to disrupt City’s defense were widely noted. He played a key role on the right side of Tottenham’s attack, creating problems for City’s left-back, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and contributing significantly to Spurs’ counter-pressing strategy.
His stats included 1 chance created, 3/5 successful dribbles, 2/3 tackles won, 6 ball recoveries, 7/11 ground duels won, and 1 foul won, highlighting his all-around impact.
Positive Expert Opinions:
The Standard: Gave Kudus an 8/10 rating, praising his ability to give Manchester City “nightmares” with his pace and strength, noting that he was “almost impossible to get the ball off” and crucial in transitional moments.
The Spurs Express also described his performance as a “brilliant shift,” emphasizing his statistical contributions and overall influence on the game.
@footballpl2023: Called Kudus “phenomenal,” highlighting how he troubled City’s defense with his power, pace, and skills throughout the match.
@mchadders100: Noted that Kudus seemed to have a “turbo boost in his boots,” scaring City’s defense with his dynamic play.
@AnfieldCrest: Praised Kudus for “tearing City apart” with relentless pressing and physical duels, breaking their build-up and fueling Spurs’ counter-press, calling him a “disruptor City can’t handle.” They also suggested he was “wasted at West Ham for years,” indicating his move to Spurs unlocked his potential.
@m4tt: Highlighted Kudus as a “massive signing” for Spurs, noting his danger going forward and his improved defensive work rate, particularly in tracking back to double up on City’s flair players.
@Manuel_jayFTF: Emphasized Kudus’ elite ball retention as essential to Tottenham’s structured approach under Thomas Frank, suggesting he was a key player in maintaining control against a high-quality City side.
Mixed Reviews:
GiveMeSport: Rated Kudus a modest 6.5/10, suggesting his display lacked the “spark” seen in his earlier performance against Burnley. They noted that while he was impactful, it wasn’t his most stellar showing.
Flashscore: Assigned Kudus a 6.4/10 rating, reflecting a solid but not exceptional performance against a tough opponent.
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Spurs Web: Gave him a 7.5/10, acknowledging that he wasn’t as explosive as in the Burnley match due to facing stronger opposition, but still vital in transitions, similar to his performance against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.
Contextual Analysis:
Experts noted Kudus’ adaptability and physical attributes as key to his performance. His ability to win duels, recover balls, and drive forward with pace and dribbling made him a constant threat, even if his final product was less prominent compared to his debut against Burnley, where he provided two assists.
His role under Thomas Frank was highlighted as a right-sided attacker with freedom to exploit half-spaces, an area where City has shown vulnerability. His work rate in both attacking and defensive phases was seen as a significant improvement, aligning with Frank’s tactical setup.
Some critiques focused on areas for refinement, such as decision-making in the final third, to elevate his game to the next level at Spurs.
Overall, Kudus’ performance was widely praised for its energy, physicality, and disruptive quality, with experts and fans alike seeing him as a key component of Tottenham’s tactical success against a formidable Manchester City side. However, some outlets suggested he could improve his consistency and final output to match his earlier performances.
