“That’s how we have to play — our season begins now.”
Dejan Kulusevski completely summed up how the temper has been remodeled amongst Tottenham Hotspur’s gamers, employees and supporters after they beat Manchester United 3-0 at Previous Trafford.
Two weeks in the past, followers have been stressed after Spurs misplaced at residence to Arsenal within the north London derby. That they had received solely one among their first 4 video games of the season and it regarded like the issues that plagued them in the direction of the top of the 2023-24 marketing campaign had not been addressed. Tottenham have been dominating the ball however struggling to create high quality probabilities.
Once they have been shedding 1-0 to Coventry Metropolis within the 87th minute of their third-round Carabao Cup tie, issues threatened to turn out to be poisonous. Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson led a outstanding comeback and since then, this workforce has regarded in sync.
Sunday’s victory towards Erik ten Hag’s facet was the primary time Tottenham have crushed a member of the Premier League’s conventional ‘Massive Six’ away from residence beneath Postecoglou and the outcome ought to kick their season into gear. The efficiency must be the benchmark going ahead.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Man United 0 Spurs 3 – What now for Ten Hag? And breaking down Van de Ven’s unbelievable help
Spurs have been magnificent within the first half. Postecoglou’s philosophy is about bravely taking part in out from the again and relentlessly urgent opponents excessive up the pitch. There was proof all through this recreation that Tottenham’s squad have gotten extra snug with their head coach’s calls for and are unafraid to persist when issues go fallacious.
Within the nineteenth minute, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven baited United’s press. Van de Ven handed the ball round Alejandro Garnacho, Timo Werner nudged it previous Matthijs de Ligt and Future Udogie had acres of area to drive into. Udogie discovered Kulusevski within the field and the transfer ended with Johnson placing the publish.
Manuel Ugarte was making his first top-flight begin for United and was by no means allowed to decide on the ball. Dominic Solanke pressed him from behind whereas James Maddison and Kulusevski charged at him from the entrance. Noussair Mazraoui was being overwhelmed by Werner and Udogie on the left wing. Tottenham suffocated their opponents and left them feeling dizzy.
They recorded an anticipated objectives (xG, which measures the standard of a workforce’s probabilities) determine of 4.7. Tottenham have been tearing United aside even earlier than Bruno Fernandes’ pink card for a foul on Maddison within the forty second minute. Fernandes’ dismissal was not the catalyst for his or her implosion however simply one other symptom of it.
Van de Ven is an distinctive defender and his means to drive up the pitch provides Postecoglou an additional weapon. Fernandes, Ugarte and Mazraoui regarded scared to problem the Netherlands worldwide as he bulldozed his approach into the field and arrange Johnson to open the scoring.
The star of the present was Kulusevski. It’s weird to suppose the Sweden worldwide had spent the vast majority of his time on the correct wing at Tottenham since he joined them on an preliminary 18-month mortgage deal from Juventus in January 2022. Postecoglou used him in central midfield final 12 months and has continued with it this season. Kulusevski’s relationship with Maddison is blossoming they usually possess the expertise to carve groups aside.
“They’re each actually good clever footballers,” Postecoglou stated in his post-match press convention. “The best way we play fits their traits as a result of Maddison does a lot harm with the ball and Kulusevski does a lot harm along with his operating. It’s a very good stability for us in that attacking third.
“Additionally they needed to present good self-discipline at present as a result of we knew that the principle risk Manchester United have is within the transition. They’re fairly deadly with the entrance guys they’ve acquired so we actually needed to ensure we locked them in at present and that was the full-backs and for Maddison and Kulusevski to be actually disciplined of their soccer. They’re each going rather well and dealing actually arduous and enhancing.”
Kulusevski was the star at Previous Trafford (Michael Regan/Getty Pictures)
Kulusevski created 9 probabilities, greater than every other visiting participant in a top-flight recreation at Previous Trafford since Opta’s information started in 2003. He ought to have recorded no less than two assists for completely timed by way of balls that despatched Werner by way of on objective however his team-mate shot straight at Andre Onana on each events. Kulusevski referred to as it a “dream to play at Previous Trafford like this”.
“I’m rising as a participant and I can play to my strengths,” he informed The Athletic. “I’m the perfect within the center, I can rating objectives, I can discover good passes, then I play with Maddison, who’s unbelievable with the ball. We’ve Rodrigo Bentancur, who’s an unbelievable participant when he performs like this. It appears to be like offensive on paper but it surely’s working rather well.
“Our stress within the first half was unbelievable. They couldn’t get the ball out. We received it each time. We received 3-0 but when we have been scientific we’d have received by extra.”
What makes this outcome extra spectacular is that Tottenham discovered a approach to cope with out their captain Son Heung-min. The South Korea worldwide felt fatigue in his hamstring throughout Thursday’s 3-0 win towards Qarabag within the Europa League. It’s the first time Son has missed a recreation by way of damage since November 2022 when he suffered a fractured eye socket. There are doubts concerning the ending means of Werner, who changed Son within the beginning line-up, however he saved operating previous Mazraoui and one intelligent move within the first half created a very good alternative for Udogie.
There have been plenty of different positives, together with Johnson scoring for the fourth recreation in a row. Lucas Bergvall, who regarded heartbroken when he was substituted towards Qarabag following Radu Dragusin’s pink card, performed a serious position in Solanke’s objective with a crisp nook supply. Dragusin changed Van de Ven for the ultimate jiffy and had the chance to rapidly transfer on from his reckless second on Thursday. Spence got here on for Udogie, who felt ache in his proper quad, at half-time and carried out effectively out and in of possession.
Postecoglou has been repeatedly saying because the opening weekend that this workforce is enhancing and on Sunday, the indicators have been there for all to see.
(Prime photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Pictures)
