Man United vs Tottenham: 5 players who could change the game on their own in the Premier League encounter between the Red Devils and Spurs.
Manchester United and Tottenham started the season very similarly. Both clubs started the league with victories but continued to struggle under mid-table sides and away matches. United left for the international break with a swing of favourable results. Tottenham on the other hand were staring at the lights.
Also read: How have the Red Devils and Spurs fared against each other in the last 5 seasons
Daniel Levy then made the brave decision of replacing Mauricio Pochettino with Jose Mourinho. Tottenham have since won their last 3 matches in all competitions and have even recorded the elusive away win when they beat West Ham; their first since January.
Manchester United on the other hand, have recorded a loss and 2 draws since the international break. With the gap between them and the top 4 increasing every week, the Red Devils will have to win matches consistently or they will have to settle for Europe once again; or even worse, no European football at all.
Despite the impressive start under Mourinho though, Spurs have continued to look suspect in their defence and will have to sort that out if they intend to claim a place in the top 4. Tottenham will look to continue their winning streak at the Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Here are the 5 players who can swing the fortunes in the favour of their club during the Man United vs Tottenham match.
#5) Toby Alderweireld
Mourinho has a reputation of playing defensive football instead of a free-flowing football. In his short stay at Tottenham so far, he has chosen to play a rather attacking based game. It is true that Spurs have the players to play a more aggressive game, the main reason for the change however, is their shambolic defence.
It is apparent that Mourinho does not trust the backline and why would he? While the team has scored 10 goals in their last 3 matches, they have also conceded 6. 2 goals in every match. They may have managed to outscore their opponents but will be not fortunate enough to do every time; especially against tougher opponents.
This is where Toby Alderweireld comes in. The centre back can take the responsibility of the backline just as other defensive generals have done so under Mourinho in the past. He will have to step up and take the John Terry or Sergio Ramos role and martial the defence.
The fact that Alderweireld perfectly fits into Mourinho’s long ball system is an added bonus. The Belgian’s ability to send a perfect long ball to his teammates, can allow the forwards to play their natural game while the defence remain more compact.
If Alderweireld plays the role asked of him perfectly, there is no reason why the Man United vs Tottenham match will not end with Spurs bagging 3 points. United’s defence after all, has been just as shaky as theirs without having the same quality in their forwards.
#4) David de Gea
Despite the purchases of Aaron-Wan Bissaka and Harry Maguire, Man United still have a loose backline that could cost them heavily vs Tottenham. They have conceded 5 goals in their last two premier league matches and 7 in their last 3 games across all competitions since the international break.
However, United could have very well gone on to lose all 3, such was the nature of their defending, if not for star keeper David De Gea, who has now made it a habit of making incredible saves in almost every match only to be let down by his teammates, week after week.
In Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura, Tottenham have one of the most potent attacking forwards in the Premier League. A defence that conceded 3 against Sheffield United and 2 against Aston Villa is all but guaranteed to be blown away by this quartet.
Whether United are able to compete or perhaps even win the match is very literally in the hands of David De Gea. The Spaniard has made a very mediocre defence look alright, with some effort from the back 4 or 5, De Gea could end up being the reason why Mourinho may not have that winning return.
#3) Harry Kane
In Harry Kane, Mourinho has one of the best strikers in the world. Mourinho has always liked strong strikers leading his attack. Didier Drogba, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa have all performed exceedingly well under him before. Harry Kane is also a very traditional striker like the names mentioned before and could very well serve the Portuguese just like they did.
Both United and Tottenham enter this match with a very leaky defence. In the end, the match is very likely to be won by the side that attacks better. Man to man, Spurs have the far superior attacking front and in Harry Kane they have a great weapon that United lack; a clinical finisher.
Kane has already mentioned that the manager looks at him as a key player and it appears that he trusts his manager as well. There is nothing that the Portuguese can coach Kane. However, players like Kane need managers who allow them to express themselves.
Someone like Rooney perhaps would not have been the kind of player he eventually became without the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson and that is the role Mourinho will have to play for Kane. If the Portuguese can make Kane fall in love with playing football for Spurs once again, a trophy is almost a certainty for the side in the near future; or at the very least, a victory against United on Wednesday.
#2) Daniel James
Jose Mourinho was the manager of Manchester United for almost 3 seasons. The manager is very well aware of the players that play in the opposite camp having made their training regime and match day plans. It is therefore, fair to say that he knows both their strengths and weaknesses.
In Daniel James however, Man United have a weapon that could prove to be their wildcard vs Tottenham. The young winger is almost an unknown commodity for most in the Premier League. We have said it many times before and we will say it once again, both teams possess a weak backline and the match will most probably be decided by the team that attacks better.
Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have all developed under the Portuguese and Mourinho will no exactly how to counter them. This is where James comes in handy. The only new frontline addition could end up becoming the clubs x-factor heading into the match.
Apart from that, James also has a very infectious enthusiasm. It feels like every time he performs well, the rest of the club and especially the forwards do well as well. James may have had some quite matches in the last few weeks. However, every time United have had tough opponents this season, James has stood up and made himself matter.
#1) Dele Alli
For a long time, this season, many believed that Dele Alli was a spent force despite his very young age. He bloomed very soon and there was a school of thought that suggested that maybe he had already peaked and this was now his slide down.
It didn’t help that he lost his place to Mason Mount in the national team and looked like a shadow of a player who helped Tottenham break the hierarchy and establish itself in the top 6 of English football. Things have however, changed since the appointment of Mourinho.
Under the Portuguese, Alli has transformed into his rampaging self and has already scored 3 goals and an assist. Alli has the potential to be used like Frank Lampard was during Mourinho’s first reign as Chelsea Boss.
With new found motivations and a manager who is not scared of burdening the youngster with expectations and responsibilities, the match against Man United would be the perfect way for Dele Alli to announce his return and make Gareth Southgate take notice.
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