In May, when asked about his remaining ambitions in England after City’s historic treble, Guardiola’s answer came with a wry smile: “To score a goal against Spurs away.”
He clasped his hands, almost in prayer, adding, “Yeah, I’ll stay because I want to beat Spurs away.”
That elusive goal, that longed-for victory, has remained frustratingly out of reach for City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Five times they’ve ventured into the gleaming North London venue since its 2019 opening, and five times they’ve left empty-handed.
For a team renowned for their offensive prowess and goal-scoring sprees, this barren run at Spurs is an anomaly, a statistical quirk bordering on the absurd.
And on Friday night, the chance to exorcise this hoodoo presents itself once more.
City’s 9,000 travelling fans, the largest contingent they’ve ever taken to Tottenham, might sense this could be the night.
The stars seem to align, with Guardiola’s men in imperious form and Spurs navigating a period of turbulence.
Yet, the ghosts of past failures still linger in the air, a silent reminder of the task at hand.