In a puzzling admission, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that he “totally ignores” his side’s 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September. The astonishing claim suggests that the Dutch coach is opting to brush off the embarrassing defeat, which saw Spurs dominate United and take all three points.
The game, which saw Bruno Fernandes sent off for a tackle on James Maddison, was one that United would rather forget. However, it is highly unusual for a manager to so readily dismiss a game, particularly one that was vigorously contested and ended in a heavy defeat.
Upon further analysis, it becomes clear that Ten Hag has some justification for his stance. The successful appeal of Fernandes’ red card suggests that the Portuguese midfielder’s tackle was not as reckless as initially thought, and he should not have been sent off. This would have meant that United would have been able to field 11 men on the pitch for longer and potentially change the course of the game.
However, this does not excuse the fact that Tottenham were comfortably on top even when United had 11 men on the pitch. Spurs’ manager, Antonio Postecoglou, correctly pointed out that his side’s dominance was the reason for Fernandes’ red card, stating, “Their red card is a consequence of our dominance, we put them under so much pressure, they couldn’t really get out of their half.”
Despite this, Ten Hag remains convinced that his team has shown the resilience and determination required to overcome adversity. “This team is resilient, this team is determined,” he said, pointing to his side’s ability to earn a draw against Fenerbahce in the Europa League. “Against Brentford, two tough away games now in Europe, Porto and today again [against Fenerbahce] – this team has character and this team showed fighting spirit and determination to win games.”
Manchester United will need all of this mental fortitude when they travel to West Ham United’s London Stadium on Sunday lunchtime. Having won just two of their last 17 Premier League trips to England’s capital, they will be looking to make it three in a row, having previously triumphed over Fulham.
