Tottenham Hotspur created further problems for Manchester United in the Premier League with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford. The win is extremely welcoming for the North London club, who recently lost a heavyweight contest to Arsenal 1-0. However, a convincing win away at Old Trafford will be a huge boost for them as they are trying to get their Premier League season on track. On the other hand, Manchester United’s future seems to be bleak under Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes’ Red Card
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been the benchmark for the club for a few years now. Ever since he was signed by the Red Devils in January 2020, the Portuguese playmaker has set the bar too high for him. The Portuguese star has scored 79 goals in 241 games for the club since his arrival and is one of the few signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era who can be classified as a hit. However, he is going through possibly his worst time as a Manchester United player.
In the game against Tottenham Hotspur, Fernandes was abysmal from the start, giving the ball away constantly. His red card in the 42nd minute was a casualty waiting to happen. The Portuguese playmaker clattered into James Maddison. The replays showed that Fernandes had slipped, but the intention didn’t count as the referee had a decision to make. The 30-year-old will miss games against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham, respectively. Considering how he has played since the start of this season, United fans won’t mind not seeing him in the starting eleven in the next three league games.
Contrasting Situation With Managers
On one hand, the pressure is rising for Erik ten Hag. The Manchester United manager ‘get out of jail free card’ last season despite finishing eighth in the Premier League as the Red Devils finished the season by winning the FA Cup. Many fans and ex-pundits blamed the huge bombardment of injuries as the reason behind Ten Hag’s lack of fluid playing style. However, the situation is now totally different. Despite finishing eighth, United backed Ten Hag by first triggering a one-year contract extension and getting him players like Manual Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Matthijs de Ligt. Considering the results are still unsatisfactory, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe might have to think about their manager’s job.
On the other hand, the pressure is eased on Ange Postecoglou. The Greek soccer manager was under intense scrutiny after losing the North London Derby to Arsenal a few weeks ago. This defeat came one week after a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. However, the boat seems to be stabilized after positive results in the League Cup and the Europa League. With this devastating win against Manchester United, he will buy more time. Since his appointment by Tottenham Hotspur, ‘Big Ange’ is unbeaten against the Red Devils, winning twice in three Premier League matches.
