Eric ten Hag had a chance to take something out of the game, but in the end they can't have any complaints. Getty Images/Paul Terry Match Preview — Premier League 23/24 — Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United many of the same faces — and a few new ones — serve the same mediocrity.
It was a bad day for United in London, especially since they were playing against Tottenham just a few days into the new era. Harry Kane is gone and while the influence he had on this team will be missed for years to come, it was a very good first draft from Ange Postekoglou when it came to the future. They were a young, bold, attacking team that may still have room to move, but they seemed to enjoy the risk.
They scored two goals in the second half, the first coming from Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, acquired two years earlier, loaned out, returned and now finally appears to be part of the plan under Postecoglou. It wasn't a Spurs-dominated game, but when it came to the decider, it was Postecoglou's players who took the lead and seized their chances.
It was a dark day for Ten Hag's big team. attackers. Marcus Rashford replaced and got upset. Own goal by Lisandro Martinez. An anxious day for Casemiro, somewhat lost in the turmoil of Spurs' midfield line-up of Sarr, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison. Mason Mount was a minor figure, later replaced. Ten Hag has already proven that he can overcome these setbacks, but once again he feels like he has his back against the wall.
Lisandro Martinez can only watch as his deflection helps the ball get past Andre Onana. Credit: Getty Images/Adrian Dennis
It's early in the blaming season, but United can't afford to start slowly.
From behind the Sky Sports pundits table, Roy Keane declared that United were the «new spurs» and everyone understood what he meant. In the second volume of Keane's memoirs, he recalled Sir Alex Ferguson's team conversation before the game against the aforementioned when the coach simply told his players, «Guys, this is Tottenham.» That was all he needed to say to his players to convey to his players the gulf between the two teams' drive to win.
Since then, there have been days when a new generation of Spurs players have addressed this perceived mismatch in courage. The 6-1 victory over United at Old Trafford in October 2020 was one such occasion, but it was a different day under new circumstances. United were supposed to stabilize as best they could in the maelstrom of takeover — real or not — and the unfolding Mason Greenwood saga.
It should be a more reliable side than the one that started last season with defeats at Brighton and then scored four goals at Brentford. They beat Wolves on Monday at Old Trafford, but there was little in that game to suggest they were about to win. Perhaps Postecoglou sensed this in preparation.
He chose six Spurs players, including excellent goalkeeper Guglielmo Viario, who each made less than 20 league appearances for the club. moment in the second half.
Ten Hag later clung to first-half performance and the value of Anthony's shot, which hit the post shortly after Sarr's goal, which he considered key. «We played really well in the first half and it's a good Spurs team,» Ten Hag said. “We dominated the game in and out of possession. The Spurs were indeed in trouble. But you have to score the first goal.
“It's so important. We didn't, and then it started shortly before the break: we scored three unnecessary warnings. We blacked out and missed a big moment. In the second half, stay focused, keep working and stay ahead. Be active. That's something we didn't do.”
No, Kane, no problem? Postekoglu's joy after a beautiful victory
Instead, Ten Hag said his players «cheered up the opposition». “We could be right back to normal. Great chance from Anthony. After that, we did not fall apart, and the meaning of the first goal is that you cheer up the opponent. This is what we saw.”
The three unnecessary warnings, as seen by Ten Hag, included one for Bruno Fernandes for adding his thoughts on this to Antony's earlier warning. Michael Oliver applied the new rules and the United captain looked stunned. A few minutes earlier, he missed the best chance of the game for his team. A headbutt in front of the goal, alone forming an offside line for lead-footed Spurs. It felt like Fernandes was thinking about it too.
The first goal came when Pedro Porro, another bold choice from Postecoglu at right-back, sent Dejan Kulusevski into an unrestricted space. The Swede is not a speed trader, but given that he has a left foot, this can cause problems. His cross was accidentally deflected and Sarr was able to adjust his run to guide him with his left foot. United reeled.
Ten Hag replaced his wingers, Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony, as well as Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Later, Rashford and Mount also broke away, but their influence was hard to discern. Postecoglu's changes created his second goal. Substitutes Ivan Perisic and Ben Davies teamed up before Martínez put the finishing touches on a great first day on home soil for Postecoglou.
Lineups — Premier League 23/24 — Tottenham Hotspur — Manchester United
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