
Tottenham produced an outstanding performance to down Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, and questions will once again re-emerge over Erik ten Hag’s future.
The visitors were dealt a blow ahead of kick-off as it was revealed that captain Son Heung-min hadn’t made the trip to Manchester with a hamstring injury sustained on Thursday, meaning Timo Werner was included in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI.
2 – Spurs have won just two of their last 11 Premier League away games without Son Heung-min (D5 L4), drawing both such matches last season 2-2 (at Old Trafford & Goodison Park). Setback. pic.twitter.com/8MEDAPajVl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 29, 2024
I’m not worried about missing Son. I’m worried about starting Werner.
— Matt Hayes (@matthayesthfc) September 29, 2024
Alisson, Rodri and Son have all picked up injuries immediately after criticising how congested the football calendar is https://t.co/EEWdG8PAvb pic.twitter.com/bWur8r9YeI
— barry (@BackseatsmanLFC) September 29, 2024
Manuel Ugarte made his first Premier League start for Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils.
Looking forward to seeing partnership of Ugarte and Mainoo today for Man United. Will be a big test against a Spurs team that counter really well on turnover of possession.
— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) September 29, 2024
Ugarte Bruno Werner we’re about to watch some atrocious footeh
— J…. (@yehblitzed) September 29, 2024
There was a sense pre-match that goals may well be on the menu at the Theatre of Dreams, and it took Spurs just a couple of minutes to break the deadlock. Brennan Johnson continued his impressive scoring streak, but his close-range effort was made possible by an utterly ridiculous Micky van de Ven run.
Serious question, has there ever been a faster player in the Premier League than Micky van de Ven?
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 (@TheEuropeanLad) September 29, 2024
Johnson again van de ven btw what a player
— Aaron Lennon (@AaronLennon12) September 29, 2024
Just switched on the game and saw Van de Ven destroy our entire team. pic.twitter.com/FdtpR1od5V
— Deng (@UTDDengv2) September 29, 2024
VAN DE VEN RUN AND 4 IN A ROW FOR BRENNANpic.twitter.com/h0Vu53iE8r
— (@luka_thfc) September 29, 2024
Tottenham were excellent in the opening exchanges, but they were aided by a Man Utd side that struggled to string a sequence of passes together nor looked willing to win possession back high up the pitch.
Ugarte, meanwhile, was getting run ragged by James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski between the lines.
Rashford, Bruno and Ugarte link-up play:
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) September 29, 2024
ugarte performance so far pic.twitter.com/iTPmHeHTq5
— LD (@ldmusaj) September 29, 2024
United’s first big moment arrived when Joshua Zirkzee had an effort well-saved by Guglielmo Vicario, but that chance came while Spurs were down to ten with Destiny Udogie off the pitch having received treatment. Before Zirkzee’s chance, Johnson was denied by the post following another slick Lilywhite move.
Zirkzee looks like a kid with no confidence at all right now…
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) September 29, 2024
Zirkzee needs to spend 2 hours after every training session practicing his finishing man.
— 天蝎座 (@UtdEIIis) September 29, 2024
“It really is bad,” was Gary Neville’s downbeat assessment of United’s performance at the 30-minute mark, with the hosts succumbing to wave after wave of Spurs attacks. Ten Hag’s side, for the umpteenth time, looked completely lost and bereft of inspiration with and without the ball.
Gary Neville questioning United’s style of play and saying he can’t see what Erik ten Hag wants them to do #mufc pic.twitter.com/sH7mTH2yQh
— Steven Railston (@StevenRailston) September 29, 2024
I have no words for how bad this 30 minutes has been, this is one of the worst performances I’ve seen from Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United which is saying something. Don’t care about the scoreline, objectively we’re not even close to competent here. Horrid, horrid performance.
— h (@htomufc) September 29, 2024
Ten Hag currently wondering if there’s anyone else from his 2019 Ajax team he can sign to improve things.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) September 29, 2024
And while a sympathetic Werner kept the score at 1-0 by hitting a tame effort at Andre Onana after breezing in behind, Ten Hag’s woes were compounded by Bruno Fernandes’ dismissal just before half-time for a high lunge on Maddison.
Implosion at Old Trafford. Fernandes sent off. Made a movement with his studs to Maddison’s shin after slipping but drew foot back. Harsh. At same time, Mainoo off injured, feeling his hamstring. Deep trouble for #MUFC – Spurs far superior even before that.
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) September 29, 2024
I might sell Bruno Fernandes this week.
— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) September 29, 2024
I’ll be honest being 1-0 up and against 10 men has me absolutely terrified
— Billie (@Billie_T) September 29, 2024
Spurs supporters would’ve been theorising at half-time as to how Postecoglou’s side could blow a game that was overwhelmingly in their favour, but those fears were quickly eased after the restart as Kulusevski cleverly doubled their lead.
“Sacked in the morning,” #THFC fans serenade Ten Hag. It never rains but it pours for Ten Hag. #MUFC opened up again, so weak in possession. #THFC broke, Johnson run, Kulusevski elegant guided volleyed finish. 2-0 #THFC #MUNTOT
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 29, 2024
Yes, United are poor but Spurs have been bang on it today! Johnson assist, Kulusevski with a good finish. 2-0 Tottenham. It could be so much more.#COYS #THFC
— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) September 29, 2024
The clouds darkened over Old Trafford as the contest progressed with Tottenham firmly in control, but the United faithful, despite surely being left aghast by what they’d been forced to endure, made an admirable attempt to facilitate some inspiration. There was an upsurge, but chances continued to arrive for Spurs and it was the wonderful Kulusevski often at the heart of their forward play.
For three games a year Kulusevski becomes the best player in the world and refuses to elaborate
— // (@aggzzx) September 29, 2024
The amount of space that Man Utd leave between their CBs and midfield double pivot is hilarious. This is a replay match of Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd last season. Kulusevski cannot believe his luck at how much space he’s getting. Just like Olise couldn’t last season.
— Raj Chohan (@rajsinghchohan) September 29, 2024
United briefly threatened a resurgence and Casemiro did come close, but a Tottenham triple change immediately brought about a third goal. Lucas Bergvall took the corner from which Dominic Solanke poked home after Pape Matar Sarr’s flick.
Bergvall delivering a perfect corner and Sarr with the assist, in their first action after coming on.
Ange masterclass fair enough
— (@axelthfc) September 29, 2024
Spurs fans are singing Dom Solanke to the tune of the old Martial chant and I’ve got to ask who thought it was a waste of money to sign him
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) September 29, 2024
The visitors sauntered in the aftermath as the rain poured, and while the United fans that remained refused to turn on their manager, questions will undoubtedly be asked on Ten Hag once more given the level of the Red Devils’ performance.
It’s over for Ten Hag.
— Liban (@LibanLDN) September 29, 2024
Ten Hag will mention the fact he’s achieved the most trophies behind City since he’s been here, mark my words.
— Faysal (@elfayz_) September 29, 2024