It was another chastening and somewhat humiliating defeat for Manchester United on Sunday afternoon as Tottenham claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory in their Premier League encounter at Old Trafford. A sobering day for Erik ten Hag and his players saw Spurs score three times in the rain, while Bruno Fernandes saw the red card for a challenge that added further woe.
Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored the goals as Spurs took apart an appalling Manchester United side, who also had Bruno Fernandes sent off.
After reportedly narrowly escaping the sack in the summer, Erik ten Hag may well be fearing for his job after a weak performance.
From the off, Spurs were first to every ball, and it was no surprise when they took the lead on three minutes, Johnson tapping home at the far post after fantastic work from Micky van de Ven.
Though Spurs didn’t score again in the first half, they absolutely dominated as United shrunk. Then, with three minutes until the break, Fernandes slipped as James Maddison passed him, lunged, and was sent off after his challenge landed higher than intended.
Handed an opportunity to reorganise, Ten Hag will have been dismayed to concede within two minutes of the restart, Kulusevski finishing cleverly after more good work from Johnson.
Then, just as United established a foothold in the game, Spurs made it safe, Solanke sliding in after Pape Sarr flicked on a corner.
In the time remaining, the away end mocked the home fans, team and
Talking point – Ten Hag on the brink?
Under every manager of the Post Fergie Wilderness Years, things at Old Trafford have got toxic, all of them allowed more time than they’d earned. This time, though, the decision-makers are not bean-counters looking to save a few quid of their contractual obligations, but a ruthless sports-focused operation run by a billionaire looking to build a legacy as the man who made United great again.
Consequently, Erik ten Hag will be wondering if he’s just managed his last game as manager –and with good reason. As he’s so keen to remind us, he’s led United to two Cup triumphs, fine achievements. But more than two years in, the players and team are his, but there’s still no sense that he has the chops to challenge the best.
Just last weekend, United produced one of the best halves of his time in charge. and yet they still couldn’t score, an inability to finish a minor improvement on last season’s inability even to create.
