At Old Trafford, Tottenham put up a fantastic performance to defeat 10-man Manchester United 3-0, thereby putting further pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
Micky van de Ven’s brilliant run from his own half set up Johnson’s easy finish. Spurs continued to produce chances but failed to extend their lead. With Timo Werner being the main offender when he let United keeper Andre Onana save a clear through.
The dismissal of captain Bruno Fernandes for a lunge at James Maddison three minutes before halftime did not help United’s situation, but Ten Hag’s team was an overmatched, unruly mess even before they were down to fewer players.
Two minutes after the half, Dejan Kulusevski masterfully flipped over Onana to give Spurs their first lead extension. Johnson had set up the excellent break. Following, Dominic Solanke gave the scoreline a more realistic aspect by heading in Pape Matar Sarr’s headed flick at a corner. This caused a mass departure of United fans from Old Trafford.
United’s inferiority to Spurs was embarrassing. Only goalkeeper Onana emerged with a credit for two fine saves from Werner and Solanke, who had looked poised to rub further salt in the wounds with a fourth.
It wasn’t just the manner of United effort as they dropped into the bottom half of the Premier League table that was so alarming.
Ten Hag is now at the point in his time at Manchester United where a crisis is only a poor loss away. For the Dutchman, that alone made it a difficult day. After defeating Manchester United for the fourth time in a row in all competitions, Tottenham put on a flawless display. This is their best since the intense early going of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.
Just two weeks prior, when Spurs needed a late comeback to defeat Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, serious questions were being raised regarding Postecoglou. However, this incredible performance offered a convincing response.
It will, of course, be Ten Hag who will come under scrutiny. He has no place to hide after this beating. United show few signs of improvement or any signs that they are better than last season.
These are difficult days for Ten Hag – days that will be testing the patience of the Old Trafford hierarchy who finally kept faith with him in the summer after a post-season review.
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