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Rob Guest & Emma de Duve

Eric Dier reveals Antonio Conte's Tottenham gameplan that was integral to Man City victory

Eric Dier has explained what Tottenham did to help them earn a 3-2 victory against Man City at the Etihad on Saturday evening.

The win was the second time Spurs have beaten the league leaders this season, after their 1-0 victory on the opening day of the season.

The Lilywhites bounced back from their most recent two defeats, which came at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Southampton and Wolves.

Antonio Conte had a boost ahead of the tie, with Dier returning from an injury which has kept him out for a number of games, causing some disorganised defending in recent matches.

The 28-year-old didn't disappoint upon his return, making eight clearances and he helped create an organised back-line.

After the game the defender spoke to football.london on his verdict of the solid display.

"Obviously a really good win for us, especially against them away from home, but anywhere to be honest," Dier admitted. "They are a fantastic side and I think probably the best in the world.

"For us to win after the results we've had as well, to come here and win is really big for us and important for us and hopefully it can push us on."

At the end of last year, Conte was full of praise for Dier and explained his beliefs that he could "become one of the best players in the world in that position".

Eric Dier returned to Tottenham's starting line-up against Man City after his recent injury. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

After the Italian revealed that the England international was available against Pep Guardiola's side, he reiterated Dier's importance for his side.

"Eric Dier is an important player for us as he has a strong personality, good quality and is strong physically," Conte admitted on Friday.

"He is an important player for me. Tomorrow [Saturday] for the second time since I arrived in the league they are going to play together, Eric Dier and Cristian Romero."

Romero was another stand-out player at the Etihad who made seven clearances, two interceptions and blocked two shots, emphasising the impact of the duo being in the backline for Tottenham.

Man City had 71 per cent possession and 21 shots at goal and it was never going to be easy for the Lilywhites to get the three points, but Dier gave an insight into the plan Spurs executed so well.

"They [Man City] are always going to create chances and I think it's about trying to limit them as much as possible," the 28-year-old said. "It's a game where you have to be really focused tactically.

"I think when we had the ball the most important thing was that we always tried to play out every time from Hugo [Lloris] or even when we recovered the ball.

"We had a clear idea of how we wanted to hurt them and I think we executed that really well," he added.

Another boost for Spurs ahead of the trip north was the full week they had on the training pitch.

Since Conte's arrival, he has had to deal with a number of injuries and setbacks amongst a busy fixture schedule, but the Italian had a full week to prepare his side for the tie.

"It's difficult to get time in with the fixture list, especially with all the games we've had to reschedule due to Covid," Dier explained. "It was really good for us to have time to prepare as much as possible on the pitch for a game like this is obviously helpful, but not just for this game but to be able to keep working on the manager's ideas and the way he wants to play.

"It's important to have that time given he came in at the beginning of the season, so we have to take advantage of it as much as possible on the pitch, off the pitch and in the meeting room as well."

The win has given Spurs a boost in the ongoing battle for a top four spot and Conte's side are seven points off fourth-placed Man United, but still have three games in hand.

Tottenham have just a few days before their next fixture, which is a trip to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, in the rearranged game which was previously postponed due to bad weather.

Spurs will want to keep consistency after Saturday's performance, something Dier also urged.

"I think this win is important if we take it in the right way," he explained. "If we recognise that if we play with that intensity, with that commitment, that unity, if we play with that every game then we can really push on from this.

"I think we have to take this win in the right way, not get carried away but recognise what we need to do as a team to get results and play well," Dier added.

"I think it's really important how we take this result. We have to take it with humility and understand that as a team we can be very good."

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