Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur player ratings: Kevin de Bruyne 9, Riyhad Mahrez 8; Hugo Lloris 8, Harry Kane 5

Guardiola hails 'incredible quality' of City after Laporte's late goal seals League Cup title for fourth year on the trot

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Zack Steffen - 7: American goalkeeper not seriously called on in first half but was at full-stretch to palm Lo Celso's curling shot just after half-time. Getty

Kyle Walker - 7: Usual offensive display from the right-back, always wanting to push on and help the City attack. AP

Ruben Dias - 7: Should have picked up booking for foul in first half but generally looked in control. Was rarely troubled and helped keep Kane and Son quiet. AP

Aymeric Laporte - 7: Back in the team with John Stones suspended. Could have been sent-off for two risky challenges on Moura. Broke the deadlock with a towering header with eight minutes to go. Went close again with another header five minutes later. EPA

Joao Cancelo - 8: Great piece of skill early on to leave Hojbjerg for dead down left and almost opened scoring but saw shot saved by Lloris just before break. A class act. Getty

Fernandinho - 8: The fulcrum to City’s first-half domination and ran the show from base of midfield. Booked for foul on Hojbjerg as Dane threatened dangerous counter-attack just after break. Saw header saved well by Lloris in second half. AP

Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Having a superb season and the German helped maintain the waves of sky blue pressure in opening 45 minutes. Headed difficult chance over at start of second half and fired another first-time shot wide with 20 minutes to go. AP

Kevin de Bruyne - 9: Started despite injury concerns and produced his usual array of passing brilliance – one swerving, dipping ball over defence very nearly picked out Sterling just before break was just outrageous skill. His free-kick set-up winner for Laporte. A fantastic performance. AFP

Riyhad Mahrez - 8: A constant danger cutting inside and went close with two attempts on goal in first half. Had another fine strike well saved by Lloris in last 20 minutes. Has a first-touch of real quality. PA

Phil Foden - 7: The little maestro started brilliantly and Spurs simply couldn’t handle him. Picked out Sterling with perfect cut-back after 15 minutes only for teammate to see shot blocked. Saw own shot deflected on to post midway through opening half when, arguably, he should have scored. AFP

Raheem Sterling - 8: His pace and trickery were a threat from the first minute. Chipped shot towards far post after half an hour flew across goal and out for goal kick. A constant nightmare for defenders. Getty

SUBS: Rodri – (On for Fernandinho 84’) N/A. PA

Bernardo Silva – (On for De Bruyne 87’) N/A.

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris - 8: A busy first half as City peppered his goal with shots without finding the back of the net. Numerous good stops in second half including a lovely one-handed save from Mahrez. EPA

Serge Aurier - 5: Good covering challenge to stop Sterling shooting in first few minutes and almost picked out Kane with searching cross 19 minutes in but, like rest of defence, spent first half just hanging on against relentless pressure. Gave away needless free-kick that lead to Laporte’s goal. AP

Toby Alderweireld - 6: Struggled against City’s high pressing, particularly in first half. Weak shot wide of target after 20 minutes. Last-ditch challenge turned Foden shot onto post. Tough afternoon. Reuters

Eric Dier - 6: Vital block on Sterling shot in opening quarter of an hour but guilty of giving away possession on several occasions. AFP

Sergio Reguilon - 4: Too easily beaten by Sterling’s pace after 10 minutes and could easily have picked up two bookings before half-hour mark. Kept allowing Mahrez to cut inside onto his favoureed left foot. Endured a tough old 90 minutes of relentless pressure. EPA

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 6: Skinned by Cancelo in opening five minutes and was constantly over-ran by City in midfield. Wasted excellent Spurs counter-attack on the hour when he passed ball out for goal-kick rather than going towards goal – then tried to blame his teammate. PA

Harry Winks - 5: Out in the cold under Jose Mourinho, English midfielder back in team and would have been given boost by a couple of good early interceptions. City, though, pretty much ran the midfield for most of match. AP

Giovani Lo Celso - 6: Gave away ludicrous foul on edge of own box in first half and would have been relieved that De Bryune could only fire his free-kick into wall. Forced good save out of Steffen just after half-time. EPA

Lucas Moura - 6: His pace was Spurs' only hope on counter-attack in first half and found himself brought down by City on several occasions when looking to launch counter-attacks. AP

Son Heung-min - 5: Awful pass backwards almost put Sterling through on goal in first couple of minutes and little chance to make difference at the other end of the pitch. Very disappointing from the South Korean. PA

Harry Kane - 5: Declared himself fit after picking up an ankle injury but Spurs’ star striker could only watch City launch wave after wave of attacks. Not match fit and had no chances to score. PA

SUBS: Gareth Bale – (On for Moura 67’) 5: Would have been disappointed not to have started but couldn’t turn the blue tide after coming on. Reuters

Moussa Sissoko – (On for Lo Celso 67’) 5: Out-muscled and out-jumped by Laporte for goal. AP

Dele Alli – (On for Hojbjerg 84’) N/A. Steven Bergwijn – (On for Aurier 90’) N/A. Reuters

Pep Guardiola felt Manchester City more than deserved their latest League Cup success.

Aymeric Laporte headed a late winner as City claimed the trophy for a fourth successive year with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Wembley.

City thoroughly dominated the contest, racking up 21 attempts on goal to Spurs' two in front of 2,000 of their own fans.

"We went out to play at an incredible level, with incredible quality," said City manager Guardiola.

"I'm so delighted for the guys and, for the guys who didn't play, the first thought is always for them. They deserved to play but unfortunately they couldn't.

"It was the fourth time in a row. It was a nice competition – Arsenal, Man United away and Spurs to win it.

"It was more than well deserved and it was good for us to share it with our people. There was some good noise. We did it for them. They represented the people at home."

Tottenham caretaker manager Ryan Mason said his players were hurting after failing to end a 13-year trophy drought.

"Pain. It hurts. I've been sitting in there as a player, I've played for this football club and lost a final, I know what it's like," Mason, who was only appointed on an interim basis on Tuesday due to Jose Mourinho's sacking, said.

"I know that feeling. It's normal that they're hurting. It's normal, because it shows that they care.

"And this group of players care deeply about this football club. I think we saw that today, they gave absolutely everything, 100 per cent commitment. We tried, we tried, it wasn't enough today, that's tough to take.

"City are a great side, an incredible team but I think our group of players gave everything with what they have had to deal with in seven days, the lack of preparation but they gave everything, absolutely everything. That is something to be proud of.

"I think when you lose a cup final, it's disappointing. We're all hurting. I am, the players are and I'm sure the fans are and everyone associated with the football club. It's difficult to take. Obviously it's my job, a coach's job to start giving the players a platform and start preparing, start planning."