Manchester United recorded the latest statement victory of the Erik ten Hag era, overwhelming Tottenham on the way to a 2-0 win.
Goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes earned the Red Devils all three points with a scoreline that flattered the unusually lacklustre Spurs. Having already beaten Arsenal and Liverpool this season, United took another top-six scalp with arguably their best performance of the season.
Ten Hag’s side dominated the first half, but failed to find the opener despite registering 19 shots. But less than two minutes after the break Fred broke the deadlock before the inspired Bruno Fernandes wrapped up the win with a sumptuous finish.
It was a night of positives for United, with one notable negative serving to cast a little shade on a brilliant performance under the Old Trafford lights:
Winners
Casemiro
Ten Hag opted to ease the Real Madrid legend into his starting lineup. That tactic looks to be a shrewd one with the Brazilian growing in stature every week.
Casemiro arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation of being chief destroyer, but on this evidence he has a lot more to his game. United look a significantly more robust side with him patrolling the middle of the park. Too often there has been a huge chasm between the back four and the forward line, but Casemiro is a metronomic link between the two. His presence also enabled Fred to play further up the pitch…
Fred
Casemiro was mostly the silent contributor in the Manchester United midfield and it was his compatriot who was the main beneficiary. Fred has so often flattered to deceive, wasted in a position that doesn’t get the best out of his qualities.
But Ten Hag got the balance of his midfield spot on and Fred was one of the key forces behind United’s near-constant barrage of attacks. His effort was matched by his quality on his ball and though his goal was fortunate it was deserved for his all-round performance.
Bruno Fernandes
The Portuguese talisman was forced to vehemently defend his methods in pre-match media commitments. "Normally I am in the top 3 for players who run and sprint the most. The one with the most recoveries. They don't find those stats because I am not scoring goals,” he told Amazon Prime.
But for all of his words and protestations, it has been clear that Fernandes is a player struggling for confidence. This showing could prove to be the turning point.
This was the Fernandes which broke records after arriving in 2020. This was the Fernandes that United relied upon for the best part of two seasons.
And this is also the kind of Fernandes that Ten Hag can trust to be an integral part of the project moving forward.
Diogo Dalot
There will continue to be speculation surrounding United possibly making a move for a right-back in the near future, but Dalot is showing any talk should be tempered. Having comfortably beaten out Aaron Wan-Bisska to the starting berth, the Portuguese continues to look like one of United’s most effective players.
Ivan Perisic was kept quiet on the left side of Tottenham’s set-up and he was able to impress his own attacking abilities at the other end of the pitch. Ten Hag would be hard pressed to find a better option without spending a significant portion of his upcoming budget.
Losers
Cristiano Ronaldo
Is there anywhere else to start? Before the game had even kicked off, Erik ten Hag was forced to address Ronaldo selection decisions.
He pointed out the fact that Marcus Rashford would give his side a more dynamic forward line, a point few could argue with after the dominant nature of their victory. The Dutchman suggested that Ronaldo would make an impact off the bench, but as soon as Fernandes made it 2-0, in truth there was little reason to bring him on.
Ronaldo could have celebrated the win where the rest of the substitutes found themselves, but instead, he created a situation Ten Hag would have to deal with. His presence is becoming an increasingly frustrating distraction to a squad otherwise moving in the right way together.
Sooner or later a decision will have to be made on his future, but Ten Hag is right in the fact that United look a much better team without him in the line-up. That isn’t to discredit his astonishing, record-breaking career, but teams shouldn’t be picked on reputation alone.
Ronaldo has played from start to finish in the Premier League just once this season. When they were thrashed 4-0 at Brentford. Club and player are moving in rapidly different directions. And while he may have missed the full-time whistle, the message delivered by his United teammates that remained on the pitch was crystal clear.
