Tottenham star compared to 'prime Lionel Messi' by pundit | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur’s dominant 4-0 win over Manchester City has left fans and pundits alike in awe, and former Spurs player Jamie O’Hara is no exception.

The talkSPORT pundit has been full of praise for two of Tottenham’s key performers in the match: Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Tottenham star compared to 'prime Lionel Messi' by pundit

Tottenham Hotspur v AS Roma - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

O’Hara was particularly taken with Kulusevski’s display, which he described as “world-class.” In a performance that had many fans drawing comparisons to top-tier players, O’Hara went one step further, stating that Kulusevski reminded him of a prime Lionel Messi at times.

The Swedish winger has had his ups and downs since joining Tottenham, but against City, he seemed to be at his best, linking up brilliantly with James Maddison and other attackers such as Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke.

Their fluid movement and pressing were too much for City’s defence to handle, with Spurs’ first goal serving as a perfect example of their effective attacking play.

Maddison steps up after tough spell

Alongside Kulusevski, O’Hara also praised James Maddison for his return to form. After a few tough weeks, including a spell out of the starting eleven, Maddison put in a stellar performance against City.

O’Hara noted that Maddison had been struggling earlier in the season but showed his true quality in this match, controlling the tempo and orchestrating Tottenham’s attack.

"If he plays like that going forward," O'Hara said, "he’s worth every penny Tottenham paid for him." Maddison’s creativity and vision were on full display, and his performance was a timely reminder of the playmaking ability that Spurs fans have been hoping to see more of.

While much of the focus has been on Spurs’ attacking brilliance, O’Hara was also quick to highlight the solid defensive display, particularly given Tottenham were without key defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin stepped up to the task, with O'Hara commending their solid, compact defending.

The pair helped secure a clean sheet, which O’Hara described as "a joy to watch." Their disciplined approach to defending, paired with their ability to play out from the back, was crucial in Tottenham's comprehensive victory.

O’Hara’s glowing review of Tottenham’s performance highlights not only the attacking quality of Kulusevski and Maddison but also the resilience and organisation of the defence, a crucial factor in the team’s 4-0 triumph over City.