Manchester United secured their fourth win in four as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes secured a 2-0 Premier League win against Tottenham Hotspur.
Michael Carrick chose to start an unchanged XI as Manchester United welcomed Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford for a rainy Premier League tie on Saturday afternoon.
The tie started with Spurs looking the sharper team, although the wet weather was not helping either side. But, with Tottenham captain Cristian Romero shown a straight red card just before 30 minutes for a challenge on Casemiro, the tide had turned.
United then took the lead as Bryan Mbeumo finished off a beautiful corner routine, and although the likes of Casemiro and Amad came close, they couldn’t secure a second before half-time. In the second half, Amad and Matheus Cunha both had goals disallowed for offside.
With 15 minutes to go, both teams made changes, and United finally found their second of the afternoon as Bruno Fernandes delicately finished a Diogo Dalot cross to secure a 2-0 lead and three more points on the board for Michael Carrick’s men.
#1 – Cunha creating organised chaos
What was so interesting to watch in the first half of United’s game against Tottenham was that the likes of Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha, and Amad all took turns leading the line.
There was a clear instruction for Cunha to start out wide but drift in centrally, and who occupied the forward line was heavily dependent on where the Brazilian was. He seemed to be the trigger for the rest to take up different positions, creating a sense of organised chaos across the front line.
He came off with around 15 minutes to play to a warm round of applause from United’s fans as he continues to prove himself every bit worth the £62.5 million United paid for him in the summer.
#2 – Carrick showing he knows how to manage game states
While United started the game quickly, Spurs fought back just as fast, and after around 20 minutes, it would have been fair to say that Frank’s side were the dominant force at Old Trafford. But United reacted quickly, changed their tempo, and, once the red card was shown, took complete control.
On multiple occasions, Carrick could be seen in deep discussions with assistant Steve Holland about how to adjust their game and fix any minor errors, and in the first half, it worked a charm.
United continued to dominate in the second half and eventually scored. Carrick’s in-game management has been stellar since he joined, and today was no different.
#3 – Not as clinical as the first three games
One worry United had, even when they were a goal up, was that they only had a 1-0 lead right up until Fernandes’ goal in the 80th minute.
The side had plenty of chances, with Fernandes, Mbeumo, and Amad all failing to convert, and it just made Old Trafford a little more nervous as Spurs grew in belief that they could nick a point.
When the captain netted their second of the afternoon, the relief both on the field and in the stands was palpable. However, another three points on the board were what was needed, and it’s what United got.
#4 – Martínez is Carrick’s second-best player
There have been so many brilliant players under Carrick, and although Fernandes remains the best in the squad, there are many others who aren’t far behind.
Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Mbeumo has scored against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Arsenal, while Cunha is thriving in his free role, but it must be said that Carrick’s second-best player at the club may be Lisandro Martínez.
Since returning from injury, Martínez has played every single minute under Carrick and has been utterly flawless. From defence to attack, the centre-back has been key for the Reds, and long may his form continue.
#5 – Is Mainoo even better than before?
It is too much to argue that Kobbie Mainoo may have come back from his exile under Rúben Amorim as an even better player than before?
It’s well documented that, while he barely started under the Portuguese manager, Mainoo worked hard with personal trainers and a new dietitian, and kept himself in complete tip-top shape. You can see that the work has paid off.
While his touch and composure have never been in doubt, his passing has improved significantly since his debut season, making him an even better player than his usual brilliant self.
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