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Tottenham fans and Jamie O’Hara cannot understand something Ryan Mason did

Will Butcher

Mon 26 April 2021 8:15, UK

Ryan Mason watched on as Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon in what was his second game in charge – but Spurs fans have questioned a decision Mason made.

Spurs were very defensive and enjoyed around 30% of the ball, not too dissimilar from the kind of performance and tactical approach you would expect under Jose Mourinho. It looked to have worked, until the final moments.

Having come close through Gio Lo Celso, who saw an effort tipped round the post and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – who chose to pass instead of shooting – City made the breakthrough late on through defender Aymeric Laporte.

With the scoreline still reading 0-0, interim manager Mason looked to add some defensive stability to his side. With both managers allowed to use four substitutes, Mason chose to bring on Moussa Sissoko – replacing Lo Celso.

It was a strange decision given Argentine ace Lo Celso had enjoyed a decent game when he was given the rare opportunity to get on the ball. It failed to make the difference, with Sissoko struggling to impress of late.

The £80,000-a-week () midfielder struggled after being introduced with just over 20 minutes to go – and both Tottenham fans and Jamie O’Hara have questioned the decision made by Mason to bring the Frenchman on.

Best managers in finals make great decisions Ryan got it wrong today, bringing on Sissoko was a bad call, also taking off Moura who was our most dangerous player, no Ndombele either, sorry but not good enough

— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1)

Posh and Masons biggest mistake at spurs will be that both played Sissoko in a final

— ejS (@JonathanSteeel)

Me when I saw Mason bringing Sissoko on..

— • ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴇʟʟɪs • (@fullback03)

I would love to know Masons thinking about why, at 0-0, he thought Sissoko could get us a win ahead of Ndombele or Dele . He reverted to the Mourinho way of negative , stifling football. As it turned out it did get a win , but for Man bloody City. Should have had a go Mr Mason .

— andrew kidney (@andyroo33)

Can't really blame Mason. Would have liked to have seen Bale start and not bring Sissoko on. But inevitably don't think that would have saved us anyway.

— Christopspur (@spurs_stan1)

Still bafflin' why Mason thought bringin' on Sissoko was a better idea than Ndombele. I know Ndombele has been strugglin' of late but Sissoko has offered nothing for weeks on end.

— McLean's (@spursmaca)