Mauricio Pochettino said the players struggled to find the energy to get back into the game after Wolves’ equaliser as we suffered a 3-1 loss at Wembley on Saturday.
It looked a different story at half-time as we led 1-0 through Harry Kane’s cracker, just reward after dominating the first half, including 10 attempts at goal.
Wolves started to get a grip on the game in the second half and found an equaliser when Willy Boly headed home Joao Moutinho’s corner on 72 minutes. They took the lead through Raul Jimenez on 83 minutes and wrapped up the points on the counter-attack three minutes from time when Helder Costa was sent clear and finished one-on-one.
The result brought to an end a sequence of five straight wins in the Premier League - a sequence that means we remain second overnight despite this setback with City set to play Southampton on Sunday.
We've had a very good run in the last few weeks and to keep that level is difficult, but now we need to move on and be ready for the next game
“Every single defeat is disappointing, but these type of games always happen during the season and of course, it’s difficult,” said Mauricio.
“I thought we were in control but in the last 15, 20 minutes it was disappointing, especially in the way we conceded the first goal.
“It was then difficult to find the energy to be in the game. It’s tough when you believe the game is under control and you believe you are going to win, but until the game is finished you cannot drop in your energy and focus and that happened in the last 20 minutes.
“We have had a very good run in the last few weeks and to keep that level is difficult, but now we need to move on and be ready for the next game.”
Next up - we travel to Cardiff City on New Year’s Day (5.30pm).