Another dreadful Man United defeat shows ambition is built on little more than delusion

For Erik ten Hag, a list of dreadful days as Manchester United supervisor turn into once already reasonably too long. Rather the attach this ranks is a moot level, however it no doubt turn into once discouraged, both surprising and yet acquainted. Outclassed by Tottenham Hotspur even sooner than they were outnumbered by them, United again appeared a expensive, incoherent mess.

Whereas Ten Hag turn into once serenaded by the Spurs followers with chants of “sacked in the morning”, one of United’s leaders of course did discover his marching orders. Bruno Fernandes’s red card turn into once a symptom of United’s problems: passive for too long, they were petulant at instances, their attempts to cease Tottenham verging on the determined, their plans falling apart.

On Thursday, Ten Hag claimed that United had turn into a nook. As an alternate, this season feels a continuation of the final – a advertising campaign that will per chance presumably be plagued by ignominies. An eighth defeat in 20 league games at Outdated Trafford underlines how a long way they beget fallen. United’s contemporary hierarchy can talk of successful the title by 2028 however they’re already six aspects off fifth, in the backside half of and with a negative intention incompatibility.

The table may well presumably no longer lie. Real as Liverpool did final month, Spurs exposed the gulf with opponents. Tottenham beget same immediate objectives, of Champions League qualification this season, however whereas United’s appeared built on delusion, there appears a realism to theirs.

They beget got been inconsistent for a good deal of the final 11 months. Aston Villa were the only enormous-eight opponents Spurs had beaten in 2024. However such an emphatic, gorgeous get showcased the ambition of Ange Postecoglou’s blueprint. It turn into once his most attention-grabbing afternoon, no longer much less than since his heady start final autumn.

His side had assurance in possession, a tactical dilemma-up that constantly gave the impression to present them someone in location even sooner than they had a one-man profit, and a counter-attacking risk. They’d the beautiful Micky van de Ven, the aesthetic James Maddison, the distinguished Dejan Kulusevski and the feelgood legend of Brennan Johnson’s redemption arc. There were more advertisements for Tottenham’s recruitment protection than United’s on the pitch.

And yet, whereas there turn into once great for them to savour, the emblematic minute for the hosts came when United contrived to lose two-thirds of their midfield. Fernandes turn into once deservedly dismissed for a lunge at Maddison, directing his studs on the Tottenham midfielder’s knee. The mitigation can were that the Portuguese slipped, however it no doubt turn into once a excessive issue with the wrong foot.

He exited along with the hamstrung Kobbie Mainoo. If a makeshift midfield beckons, the one survivor among the starters, Manuel Ugarte, turn into once abominable on his first league start, outwitted and outmanoeuvred by Spurs. Mason Mount came on and promptly obtained booked. Ten Hag sent an SOS to Casemiro at half of-time; in fairness, he acquitted himself better than the others. For a whereas, United appeared better with 10 men than 11, though that turn into once one other indictment.

By then, however, the recreation felt over. It turn into once transformed in the foundation by an electrical surge from Van de Ven. The Dutchman won the ball from Marcus Rashford in his dangle half of, lined 70 yards at startling tempo, leaving four opponents trailing in his wake and centred for Johnson to beget a faucet-in. Sooner than the Spurs supporters turn into their attentions to Ten Hag, he turn into once notorious in a refrain of “There’s only one Brennan Johnson”. Abused after the North London derby defeat, the Wales winger has responded with four goals in as many games since. There turn into once nearly a fifth, Johnson striking the foot of the publish after Tottenham scythed United apart.

The hosts were flattered by a 1-0 scoreline on the damage. It soon changed.

Spurs’ lead turn into once doubled when Kulusevski improvised a volley from Johnson’s deflected contemptible. Dominic Solanke, who scored in a 3-0 get at Outdated Trafford for Bournemouth final season, added a Third, sliding in after Postecoglou’s substitutes mixed: Lucas Bergvall’s nook being flicked on by Pape Matar Sarr. Faulted after they concede from dilemma-items, Spurs scored from one here. There turn into once a rounded issue to their recreation, a creativity to Tottenham to enhance the tempo of Van de Ven and Timo Werner.

The German began as Spurs were without the injured Son Heung-Min – though by half of-time, neither side had their membership captain – which presumably spared United a thrashing. His deputy, the most frequently erratic Werner, turn into once twice denied by Andre Onana, in a combination of unconvincing finishing and exquisite goalkeeping. The Cameroonian also stopped Solanke from making it four. His turn into once a harm-limitation job, however Ten Hag turn into once wounded nonetheless.

There turn into once scant proof to imply United were appropriate to retain him in the summer. And presumably the familiarity of it lawful illustrated the scale of the malaise.