Tottenham Hotspur inflicted further misery upon Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag with a resounding 3-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday. The result leaves United languishing in 11th place in the Premier League, piling pressure on Ten Hag’s position.
Spurs seized the initiative from the outset, with Brennan Johnson tapping in from Micky Van de Ven’s incisive run after just three minutes. United’s woes deepened when captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a reckless challenge on James Maddison just before halftime.
Tottenham capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Dejan Kulusevski doubling their lead two minutes into the second half. Dominic Solanke then sealed the victory with a clinical finish.
Ten Hag’s tenure at United has been under scrutiny since the end of last season, when the club finished eighth in the Premier League. Despite winning the FA Cup final, United’s poor start to the new campaign has raised serious doubts about Ten Hag’s ability to turn things around.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have enjoyed a resurgence under manager Ange Postecoglou. After a difficult start, Spurs have now won four games in 12 days, with their performance against United arguably their best under the Australian.
Van de Ven’s stunning run and cross set the tone for Tottenham’s dominant display. Despite missing injured captain Son Heung-min, Spurs created numerous chances, with Andre Onana making several impressive saves.
United’s hopes of a comeback were extinguished by Fernandes’ red card. Ten Hag’s decision to replace striker Joshua Zirzkee with Casemiro at halftime proved costly, as the Brazilian was partly at fault for Tottenham’s second goal.
Solanke’s third goal for Tottenham exposed United’s defensive frailties, and the traveling support made their feelings known, chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Ten Hag.
With United facing tough fixtures against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League before the international break, Ten Hag’s future at the club appears increasingly uncertain.
