Lessons learned from the Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Erik ten Hag may not last much longer: The loss to Spurs left a storm brewing at Old Trafford, with many fans now calling for the head of their Dutch manager, Erik ten Hag. He remains the United boss for now. However, many critics are already convinced the former Ajax coach's time in Manchester is drawing to a close, a feeling that has been present since last season. Ten Hag will need something close to a miracle and must now dig deep if he is to avoid a looming sack yet again
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United need more from their attackers. Here’s one for you– Tottenham generated more XG in their game on Sunday than United has all season at Old Trafford; it is simply astonishing! The Red Devils are one of the league’s lowest scorers, with only Southampton (3) scoring less than them with three (5). They have failed to excite fans in front of goal this season, barring that 3-0 away win at Southampton; each of the players that started in Unied’s front three against Tottenham has only a goal to their name so far this season – leaving fans to expect more from their front men.
The Red Devils must find an alternative to Bruno. Bruno Fernandes has been a hit since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. He has excited fans with his almost omniscient vision and exciting playmaking, consistently providing his side with solutions in the toughest of games and turning up when they need him most.
However, so far this season, Fernandes has put in lacklustre, uninspired performances and doesn’t seem to be playing at his best. His performance on Sunday led many to raise the question as to whether or not United can continue to rely solely on their skipper for creativity. The Portuguese playmaker's straight red card has been successfully appealed against. Yet, Ten Hag might proffer an alternative to his captain if United are to get back on track.
Onana continues to impress: Despite conceding three goals, Andre Onana finished the game as United’s man of the match. The Cameroonian shot-stopper made five penalty box saves against the Lilywhites – denying the likes of Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson from close range, keeping the score somewhat respectable for the Red Devils. United will need their current number 1 to continue with his impressive displays, as he is proving to be an influential figure in Ten Hag's side this season.
Noussair Mazraoui is still settling in: The Morrocan fullback has impressed at his new club so far this season since his arrival from German heavyweights Bayern Munich back in the summer. However, his performance on Sunday showed cracks in his game as he struggled to keep up with the pace and directness of Werner throughout, constantly allowing the German to find space in behind him. The former Bavarian star still has some settling in to do, and that game against Spurs should be a wake-up call for him, a reminder that there are no easy oppositions in the Premier League, and he will need to improve to keep up.
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