This was Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United realised

By Laurie Whitwell

The first realisation of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United came on Wednesday night at Old Trafford.

His players worked in whirring synchronicity to totally dominate Tottenham Hotspur and hint at the potential to come.

United defended and attacked as a collective, pushing up at the back, pressing high at the front, and thriving off the atmosphere in the crowd. Each major moment on the pitch triggered a piercing response in the stands and that energy seemed to travel as if by osmosis to the leg muscles of Ten Hag’s team.

In the 91st minute, Luke Shaw bulldozed into a 50-50 challenge with Lucas Moura, won the ball, and dribbled up the touchline. Moura had come on nine minutes earlier but looked the more fatigued of the two men.

Antonio Conte has overseen Spurs’ best-ever start to a Premier League season but United’s performance last night drained their purpose. “We have to be honest; United decided to win,” said Conte rather neatly.

United seized their role as protagonists.

• Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham: Player statistics, formations, xG

“I said to the lads in the dressing room, it was so enjoyable to watch it,” Ten Hag said.

There was much to admire, but here are the aspects of a stirring display that most caught the eye.

Attacking intent

United had 19 shots in the opening 45 minutes, the most by any Premier League side this season. Fourteen of them were from outside the box, the highest first-half total since Opta began keeping records in 2003-04. By the end of the game, they had taken 28 shots, also the most by any team in the Premier League this season. United’s previous highest was 17, against Brighton. They had reached that total after half an hour against Spurs.

Five United players had more shots than Harry Kane’s Spurs-leading three. Bruno Fernandes, Fred (both six), Antony, Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford (all four).

Rashford had the best conversion rate, with three of his shots on target and forcing very good saves from Hugo Lloris. Thierry Henry advocated for finessed finishing over Rashford’s choice of power, and that is something for the United forward to consider.

The general volume of shots maintained pressure on Spurs, forcing corners and keeping Lloris and his back line thinking about defending rather than starting attacks.

Brazil bromance

This was the match to confirm that, against certain opponents, compatriots Fred and Casemiro can form a formidable midfield double act.

Fred was the surprise figure to keep his place from the weekend’s stalemate with Newcastle with Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen back, but Ten Hag’s faith was rewarded with quite possibly his best game in his four-plus years at United.

As shown on the pitch map below, which details player average positions on the night, Fred (No 17) operated almost alongside Fernandes (No 8) as an advanced destroyer, causing chaos as Spurs tried to build.

Casemiro, meanwhile, produced a near-faultless display in the sitting role.

He showed his physicality, sensed danger, and maintained possession astutely. His punchy first-time pass out to Antony turned defence into attack for Fernandes’ goal that doubled the lead.

The standing ovation he received when coming off for Eriksen in the 87th minute felt like a significant moment.

Bruno’s back

Fernandes has been under scrutiny for his performances recently but Ten Hag launched a firm defence of his captain in the pre-match press conference.

“He is playing a massive role in a lot of moments for us in building up, creativity and movement, but also transition; both sides,” the United manager said.

This was a display to affirm Ten Hag’s appraisal.

Fernandes created nine chances, the most in a match by a Premier League player since September last year, and despite his risk-taking, had a 92.65 per cent passing success rate: much higher than is typical for him.

He scored a wonderful goal, of course, but his assistance with the ugly side of the game was equally as important.

For Fred’s opener, Fernandes sprinted to track back Son Heung-min after Lisandro Martinez’s loose pass and later in the same passage of play, intercepted Eric Dier’s ball ahead of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to help set up the chance.

Fernandes took responsibility.

Defensive solidity

This was the fifth clean sheet in eight games for Martinez and Raphael Varane, with six wins coming in that period. They dovetail nicely.

Varane followed Kane all the way to the Tottenham defensive third at one stage of the game, so comfortable was he that Martinez would be covering. The Argentinian kept a close eye on the England captain at mid-range, jumping in to claim the ball on halfway right before the interval as Kane tried to turn.

The full-backs brought protection on either side. Both Shaw and Dalot were excellent. Shaw won seven and lost three duels, Dalot’s numbers were five and two — only Martinez (also five and two) could rival those ratios among the match’s defenders.

Shaw and Dalot were also much more involved with each other than previously, as shown by the below pass maps: one from the game against Newcastle (left) and one from Tottenham (right). Shaw’s passes to Dalot are shown in blue, while the latter’s passes to his colleague at left-back are in red.

Last night, Dalot hit three long passes to Shaw at different times when Spurs had tried to press down the right, easing the situation instantly. Another cross to Shaw inside the area nearly brought a fabulous goal. Those links from right to left and vice versa demonstrate a general team cohesion.

Behind the back line, David de Gea came out of his area to better effect than previously.

When Fernandes scored, Martinez leapt into the arms of Shaw and the pair then embraced Varane and Casemiro.

The spirit was evident.

No Ronaldo

Ten Hag said he would deal “tomorrow” with Cristiano Ronaldo, an unused substitute, walking up the tunnel before 90 minutes showed on the clock, then leaving the stadium with the game still going on. The manager’s focus being on those who did play last night makes sense.

It did, though, feel like he was making a point by not bringing on Ronaldo. Ten Hag showed he can win comfortably, better even, without the man who was United’s top scorer last season with 18 of their 57 Premier League goals.

GO DEEPERCristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford before final whistle

Ten Hag’s answer on Rashford was telling: “Against Tottenham, you need good pressing because from there, you can create chances. Offensive-wise, you need dynamic. That is what Marcus brings. You saw that against Newcastle in the last 20 minutes; more space.”

He added: “Eleven players who defend, 11 players who attack. I am pleased with that.

“I will not say I am totally satisfied. Good is not good enough. That has to be the standard here.”

https://theathletic.com/3711690/2022/10/20/erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-tottenham/