One other dreadful Man United defeat exhibits ambition is constructed on little greater than delusion

For Erik ten Hag, an inventory of dreadful days as Manchester United supervisor was already reasonably too lengthy. Fairly the place this ranks is a moot level, however it was wretched, each surprising and but acquainted. Outclassed by Tottenham Hotspur even before they were outnumbered by them, United once more appeared an costly, incoherent mess.

Whereas Ten Hag was serenaded by the Spurs followers with chants of “sacked within the morning”, certainly one of United’s leaders truly did get his marching orders. Bruno Fernandes’s pink card was a symptom of United’s issues: passive for too lengthy, they have been petulant at instances, their makes an attempt to halt Tottenham verging on the determined, their plans falling aside.

On Thursday, Ten Hag claimed that United had turned a nook. As a substitute, this season feels a continuation of the final – a marketing campaign that could possibly be plagued by ignominies. An eighth defeat in 20 league video games at Previous Trafford underlines how far they’ve fallen. United’s new hierarchy can talk of winning the title by 2028 however they’re already six factors off fifth, within the backside half and with a unfavorable objective distinction.

The desk could not lie. Simply as Liverpool did final month, Spurs uncovered the gulf with rivals. Tottenham have related instant goals, of Champions League qualification this season, however whereas United’s appeared constructed on delusion, there appears a realism to theirs.

They’ve been inconsistent for a lot of the final 11 months. Aston Villa have been the one big-eight opponents Spurs had overwhelmed in 2024. However such an emphatic, wonderful win showcased the ambition of Ange Postecoglou’s blueprint. It was his most interesting afternoon, at the very least since his heady begin final autumn.

His facet had assurance in possession, a tactical set-up that all the time appeared to present them somebody in house even earlier than they’d a one-man benefit, and a counter-attacking risk. That they had the magnificent Micky van de Ven, the stylish James Maddison, the excellent Dejan Kulusevski and the feelgood story of Brennan Johnson’s redemption arc. There have been extra ads for Tottenham’s recruitment coverage than United’s on the pitch.

And but, whereas there was a lot for them to savour, the emblematic minute for the hosts got here when United contrived to lose two-thirds of their midfield. Fernandes was deservedly dismissed for a lunge at Maddison, directing his studs on the Tottenham midfielder’s knee. The mitigation could have been that the Portuguese slipped, however it was a excessive problem with the flawed foot.

He exited together with the hamstrung Kobbie Mainoo. If a makeshift midfield beckons, the one survivor among the many starters, Manuel Ugarte, was terrible on his first league begin, outwitted and outmanoeuvred by Spurs. Mason Mount got here on and promptly acquired booked. Ten Hag despatched an SOS to Casemiro at half-time; in equity, he acquitted himself higher than the others. For some time, United appeared higher with 10 males than 11, although that was one other indictment.

By then, nevertheless, the sport felt over. It was reworked initially by an electrical surge from Van de Ven. The Dutchman received the ball from Marcus Rashford in his personal half, lined 70 yards at startling velocity, leaving 4 opponents trailing in his wake and centred for Johnson to have a tap-in. Earlier than the Spurs supporters turned their attentions to Ten Hag, he was celebrated in a refrain of “There’s just one Brennan Johnson”. Abused after the North London derby defeat, the Wales winger has responded with 4 targets in as many video games since. There was virtually a fifth, Johnson hanging the foot of the submit after Tottenham scythed United aside.

The hosts have been flattered by a 1-0 scoreline on the break. It quickly modified.

Spurs’ lead was doubled when Kulusevski improvised a volley from Johnson’s deflected cross. Dominic Solanke, who scored in a 3-0 win at Previous Trafford for Bournemouth final season, added a 3rd, sliding in after Postecoglou’s substitutes mixed: Lucas Bergvall’s nook being flicked on by Pape Matar Sarr. Faulted after they concede from set-pieces, Spurs scored from one right here. There was a rounded ingredient to their sport, a creativity to Tottenham to enhance the tempo of Van de Ven and Timo Werner.

The German began as Spurs have been with out the injured Son Heung-Min – although by half-time, neither facet had their membership captain – which maybe spared United a thrashing. His deputy, the customarily erratic Werner, was twice denied by Andre Onana, in a mixture of unconvincing ending and effective goalkeeping. The Cameroonian additionally stopped Solanke from making it 4. His was a damage-limitation job, however Ten Hag was wounded nonetheless.

There was scant proof to counsel United have been proper to maintain him in the summertime. And maybe the familiarity of it simply illustrated the size of the malaise.