New Delhi: After what can only be described as a horrible start to their season in the Premier League, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs will be hoping that they start their Europa League this week. Erik ten Hag’s side has so far shown little improvement this season from the last one.
With an equal number of points, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are ahead of United just by the total number of goals scored. For the first time under Postecoglou, the club’s fans have experienced disappointment, and they hope that the home advantage in their opening game against Qarabag FK will play a role in the result.
Manchester United’s change in attitude
Erik Ten Hag during a practice session with Manchester United (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
After five games, they have only taken seven points, placed at 11th in the points tabel of the Premier League. Ten Hag was looking at termination from Old Trafford after leading the team to their worst Premier League finish, placed eight last season. The reason the former Ajax boss still continues this season at the helm of United is their FA Cup win over Manchester City in the finals.
Last season, United were unable to be consistent even at Old Trafford, winning just 13 of the 25 matches in the venue, making it a victory percentage of 52%. This was in contrast to the 27 wins from 33 games across all competitions in Ten Hag’s maiden season with the club. The winning percentage in the venue that season was 81.8%. Even their Champions League performance was disastrous. They ended their campaign at the bottom of their group.
United’s response to their poor performance last season was to have a huge expenditure at the summer transfer market. However, the move is yet to bring them the fortune that they would have hoped for. As they prepare for their opening Europa League fixture against Twente at home, the Red Devils know the need to change their Premier League approach.
This weekend’s goalless draw has overshadowed their brilliant performance in the League Cup, where they won 7-0 against Barnsley and 3-0 against Southampton the weekend before. Ten Hag, though, has said that the team is progressing, especially since their return from the international break, but even the Dutch manager knows that the scoreline on Saturday suggested something different.
Despite looking like they were going to score quite heavily, United failed to nail 15 of their attempts on goal against Palace. The good news is that they are creating chances, and even Ten Hag feels that it is only a matter of time before their new approach works well for them. Rasmus Hojlund is back in the mix alongside Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garanacho, and Amad, and they have the potential to score.
The 54-year-old manager has agreed that the team need to become more structured in order to perform at the top level of football. Last season, United were too submissive in places, and this was the reason for their poor show last season. Their lack of wins caused them to appear too frustrated as a unit. This was why visiting teams at Old Trafford were able to press for maximum points without much resistance.
They did start the season on a backfoot, with Ten Hag admitting that they were far from winning the trophy this season. Reflecting the mentality on the pitch, the side showed no zeal to win their opening Premier League game against Fulham until scoring through Joshua Zirkzee in the closing minutes of the game. After being thrashed by Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool, there seems to have been a complete turnaround in the way United is approaching matches.
In their return to the revamped structure of the Europa League, Manchester United will be looking to start their season with a victory over the Dutch side Twente, who are coming back to the tournament for the first time since 2012. A win in this first of their eight league-phase matches is a must as it would be a must for Ten Hag and his men in order to avoid pressure.
What can Tottenham Hotspur expect?
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 26: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Tottenham haven’t had the best of seasons either, with inconsistent performance in the Premier League. A 3-1 win over Brentford may have just allowed the side to bounce back as they finished the weekend at number ten in the Premier League points table. What the club is certainly looking for now is their first major trophy in 17 years.
Europa League will be a great opportunity to fulfill this desire for the Hotspur and they will try their level best to outdo their Azerbaijan opponent Qarag in the opening fixture of the tournament. Their weekend clash has proved what kind of football Postecoglou wants them to play.
By his own admission, after the win, the Hotspur manager was proud of the way the team was pressing, creating chances and finishing strong to score goals. Postecoglou is persistent that there will be periods of struggle for the side in order to achieve success. A lot of credit does go to him for taking the risk with his team selection. It was through them that the players were fresh to press.
From here on, Spurs will build on their performance in the Premier League. Having finished their last season at number five in the Premier League points table, they would hope to start strong as they look for their 25th major trophy.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs will both start their Europa League campaign in hopes of a better start than Premier League. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
