Manchester United, here’s your northern equivalent of the prestigious Wembley. Completed years ahead of time, it might not align perfectly with the architectural designs but it’s pretty close in many other facets. It’s essentially a shopping haven which happens to have included football; a testament to money poured down the drain. This is a stadium where any semblance of noise is barely more than a displeased whisper, a place Tottenham Hotspur call a second home.
When all was said and done, Erik ten Hag attempted to uphold a degree of grace, akin to a plumber unwaveringly completing his bill even with murky water splashing around his ankles. This isn’t merely a role but a position that demands composure even in times of adversity.
“Surely there’s a fire drill occurring?” Tottenham supporters jovially questioned as Old Trafford gradually began to clear. There wasn’t, but the looming threat feels palpably close.
Naturally, there is a well-oiled machine perpetually churning out theories of United’s crises. Sharp-witted commentators, audacious YouTubers, influential characters, round-the-clock news platforms: they all need to sustain themselves. Every single defeat is deemed the most severe thus far, every poor display sparks outrage as the most dishonourable, every drawback analysed and broken down as a symptom of a deep-seated affliction. The supposed remedy: some visceral catharsis, a passionate monologue from Gary Neville on social media and a dash of unverified locker-room hearsay.
The less dramatic reality is that United remain a work in progress – a team that stumbled here due to an untimely goal, a slightly excessive red card, and a highly unorthodox adversary. If anything, this should make people hold their judgement and not rush to conclusions. This was a game like no other, an outlier, played against a Spurs side resembling no one else in the Premier League at present.
This might just be Ange Postecoglou’s most commendable victory during his time at Spurs. This wasn’t just due to the magnitude of the opponent, the heavy burden of history, the last-minute drop-out of Son Heung-min, but rather because they managed to shape the game, seizing control in an extremely peculiar manner.
United didn’t simply arrive bewildered and fragmented; by and large, they had been reduced to this state by a stunning first-half display that led them to question everything. Consider the initial squad, which seemed to be following a strategy reminiscent of Garth Crooks’ “team of the week” feature on the BBC website; heavy on attackers and practically devoid of midfield protection. Rodrigo Bentancur stood alone as the rear guard behind James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, with a trio of forwards ahead of them.
It either appeared to be a daring gamble or a considerable ploy, which ultimately turned out to be a mix of both. The rhythm was set from the opening seconds. Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes created a obstruction in front of Bentancur, thwarting Spurs’ attempts to build from him. Therein, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, and Christian Romero had no other option but to sloppily rotate the ball amongst themselves, while United self-commended their restraining efforts. It took ten years and seven coaches, but they finally employed an effective press!
Nonetheless, in reality, United had walked straight into a meticulously planned trap. As United pressed and constricted, as the spectators began to engage, Tottenham was subtly assembling troops on the wings. On the left side, Timo Werner was stationed high, with Maddison and Destiny Udogie by his side. On the contrary, Pedro Porro, along with Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski, made up another force on the right. Their strategy: to swiftly channel the ball up the wing, steal the second ball and counterattack quickly.
As is always the case with Postecoglou’s Spurs, this strategy was a breathtaking balancing act. If the ball is lost, more than half the team is essentially displaced. Within two minutes, fate landed Marcus Rashford in such a situation, with Alejandro Garnacho supporting him. One miscommunication and one exceptional run later, Van de Ven was setting up the ball for Johnson to score.
The margins are foolishly slim, the breaks arbitrary. Yet the payoff is the chance to dictate the battle conditions. After this, United were rattled, grasping at straws, their game plan utterly destroyed. Tottenham then took United apart at their leisure in the second half, and had Werner managed to break his unfortunate tendency of missing solo shots, the final score could have been genuinely dramatic.
Fans can find a plethora of reasons to love Spurs from the first half finessing by Maddison to the second half mastery by Kulusevski, and from the boundless energy exhibited by the relentless Dom Solanke in the forefront to the vivacity of the frequently criticised Johnson at his side, there’s a palpable sense of progress, the sensation of a strategy unbelievably taking shape.
Undeniably, this is the strategy Spurs must adhere to, it’s the only style that aligns with them. Maintaining order does not work in their favour. Rationality is not their ally. Order equates longevity in the seventh place, constantly targeted by more affluent competitors. Rationality implies Postecoglou should continue his coaching career in the AFC Champions League.
However, the anarchy, the enthusiasm, the cult-like allure, and the ambitious positioning, this could be the key to Spurs’ reversal of fortune. It won’t continually yield success. But the moment it does, it will feel eerily akin to redemption. – Guardian