Read more about how ten Hag was mocked here.
Old Trafford was today’s venue as eleventh-placed Manchester United took on Tottenham, who are level on points in the Premier League.
When the starting XI was presented, it was clear that Erik ten Hag made three changes. Injured Harry Maguire left the starting XI in favor of Matthjis de Ligt. Kobbie Mainoo took Christian Eriksen’s place, while Alejandro Garnacho took Amad’s place.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Harry Maguire’s absence was due to a knock he suffered in training earlier this week.
In Tottenham, Dejan Kulusevski started in right midfield. Lucas Bergvall, who was replaced early in this week’s Europa match, started on the bench.
It took just two and a half minutes before Tottenham took the lead through Brennan Johnson. The defender Van de Ven moose down towards the short side and freed Johnson with a pass diagonally towards the back. The 23-year-old could easily roll the ball into an open box.
– Brilliant from Van de Ven. He goes through four Manchester United players. Fantastic, said Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
– Seriously, what is Micky Van de Ven made of? That was incredible. One of the best assistants you’ve seen, Lewis Jones filled in.
Tottenham pressed – and Manchester United looked helpless.
– Spurs get through United when they want. They have players at the back – but they might as well be statues, said Gary Neville on Sky, continuing:
– United is lazy. The audience is not engaged at all.
But in the 37th minute came a party situation for United, when Garnacho received a cross. The youngster pushed hard on the volley – but saw himself defeated by Vicario’s left post.
A minute later, Timo Werner got a free position – after Dejan Kulusevski’s razor-sharp deep pass. But Onana stood for a parade and saved United in the match.
With four minutes remaining, Manchester United suffered a huge blow – when Bruno Fernandes was sent off after going in with the studs first. The Portuguese appeared to be slipping at the situation, and judging by the pictures, he looked confused.
– I think he slipped… It’s not as bad as I first thought, but it’s not going to change, Gary Neville said on Sky.
Lewis Jones filled in:
– Was it enough to justify a serious breach of the rules? I’m surprised it hasn’t been reconsidered. It was stupid and childish, but the mitigating circumstance of the slip should probably have saved him, he said on Sky.
Two minutes into the second half, Tottenham extended the lead through Dejan Kulusevski. The Swede got a good position when Brennan Johnson’s pass went up in the air via de Ligt – and with a karate kick he gave Spurs the margin in the big meeting.
– Just what Tottenham needed in the second half, said Gary Neville in Sky.
– The away fans are questioning Ten Hag’s employment, but he needs to get his players to focus on the rest of the game, otherwise the result could be completely derailed. Spurs are unstoppable, said Gary Neville on Sky.
Tottenham continued to drum up and go for additional pods.
– It could have been four or five, said Gary Neville in Sky.
BBC:s John Murray:
– It is becoming a nightmare for Erik ten Hag. Man United are outplayed by Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham.
The nightmare continued when Dominic Solanke poked home to make it 3-0. Lucas Bergvall took a corner, which Pape Matar Sarr headed in. Solanke could easily score Tottenham’s third, and Bergvall was thus responsible for a “hockey assist”.
After the 3-0 goal, the crowd began to tire – and many seemed to leave Old Trafford.
– This has been a terrible afternoon for United – and it was terrible even before Fernandes was sent off, said Pete Gill on Sky.
Gary Neville:
– Man United’s back line is static, he said on Sky.
Manchester United failed to force a reduction, so when the final whistle blew, the following results could be recorded:
Manchester United, noll. Tottenham, tre.
Tottenham move up to 8th place in the league. Manchester United slips down to twelfth place in the Premier League.
Startelvor:
Manchester United: Onana – Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot – Ugarte, Mainoo – Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford – Zirkzee.
Tottenham: Vicario – Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie – Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison – Johnson, Solanke, Werner.
