The result has to go down as one of the best wins under Ange Postecoglou. Not only did Spurs thrash a sorry-looking Manchester United, but they also fashioned a champions-like win against ten men. It was a heroic display from Ange’s boys and one that was much needed. They are up and running in the Premier League with consecutive wins. So, what did we learn from the win against United?
Spurs are filled with creative players
No one will deny that Spurs currently have one of the most creative squads in England. It comes from a blend of youth and experience. On one flank, Werner now carries the mantle of the experienced war horse, while Brennan Johnson is the young galloping horse.
You also have Kulusevski, who has taken the new role in his stride, and Bentacur, who can keep running even when asleep. Spurs have the perfect blend of creativity right now, and they will rely on Solanke to provide the finishing touches. Having Werner (Who did start today) and Odobert (Who is currently out injured) coming off the bench is an underrated luxury.
Meanwhile, Bergvall did give a glimpse of his potential with a 20-minute cameo, but the potential star will get his opportunities further down the line. For the young lad right now, it is all about patience and hard work.
A lot of Grit
Spurs showed a lot of grit in the game. To a man, they were absolutely brilliant. Every single player was super committed, be it pressing or duels. The amount of chances they created in the first half itself was ridiculous. They had the 11th-highest XG in the history of the Premier League in this game!
It wasn’t just the creativity; the pressing and shape throughout the game were perfect. Spurs didn’t let Manchester United breathe. They forced United into so many mistakes that the frustration eventually boiled over, and Bruno Fernandes was sent off. Ange will be hoping to see this sort of consistency in performance going forward.
Patience paying off
Dominic Solanke has yet another goal for Spurs. That’s now three in three games for the England international. Solanke still has a bit of sharpening up to do, and he is still getting used to the Spurs system, but he looks more and more comfortable every day. Solanke is a huge threat up front, and now that he has started scoring, Spurs will be looking at him to score 20 goals this season at the very least.
The Kids are alright
Watching Bergvall get a few more minutes was heartening. He is slowly integrating into the first team; it will take a bit more time, but playing in games of this magnitude will only do the young Swede good.
What about Mikey Moore, though? Just imagine that curler going in the last few minutes of the game. Wooof! He is only 17, and although still in the developmental stage, you can clearly see what an excellent raw talent this boy is. Quick and direct, he definitely gave the United defenders a different kind of headache for the limited time he was on the pitch.
Although not young any more, Djed Spence looked solid and industrious. Hopefully, he will get a few more minutes going forward because he did not look out of place at all.
Ange Postecoglou should also be given a massive amount of praise for how Spurs set up yesterday, and he will hope this win can finally kickstart their journey to the top of the table.