Boubakary Soumare needs Caglar Soyuncu evolution as Brendan Rodgers exasperated by Spurs moment

In an interview in the summer, Brendan Rodgers said this season would be a “year of adaption” for Boubakary Soumare. That year is reaching its final stages and there does not seem to have been much progress.

To assess the development of the French midfielder solely on his performance at Tottenham is harsh; one game does not necessarily tell the story of a campaign. Plus, this was his first start since February, having played just 11 minutes in City’s previous 14 matches having had time out for unspecified “personal issues”.

But there were moments in the fixture that suggested Soumare has not learned from the advice he was given right at the start of the season, when he was playing more regularly. And Rodgers could not hide his frustration on the touchline.

There was one incident in the first half where Soumare picked up the ball in the centre-circle, with options left and right. He threw in a couple of stepovers, dallied, and was dispossessed. Rodgers was exasperated.

The instruction for Soumare has been to do everything quicker. He needs to make faster decisions, pass the ball more urgently, and generally sprint more. He has been too ponderous.

The difference in intensity between Ligue 1 and the Premier League has been named as a factor, but the games against Rennes in the Europa Conference League suggest the gap between the divisions is not that great. The French side were more than a match for City’s physicality and speed.

Soumare’s tracking, or lack of it, was another point of frustration. There were times in the first period where Ayoze Perez was getting back and tackling Harry Kane on the edge of the area, helping out his defence, while Soumare was still ambling back from upfield. That too was pointed out