Two strikes in either half from Marcus Rashford made the difference between both sides as Manchester United came back to winning ways with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford. This was the first loss for Jose Mourinho as a Tottenham Hotspurs manager after taking over from Mauricio Pochettino a week earlier.
It was Delle Ali who pulled one back for Spurs in the first half and looked really threatening throughout the match. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men held on to their one-goal lead in the second half and bagged a famous win.
Solskjaer who has been under tremendous pressure as a manager for the last few weeks will get more breathing space after this result as the Red Devils prepare for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Manchester Derby this Sunday. Manchester United will be desperate to win this fixture.
Marcus Rashford was the ‘Hero for the Day’ as he led the Red Devils from the front
Knowingly or unknowingly this was a clash between two English strikers. Both want to lead the lines for their sides. While Harry Kane has been the undisputed first choice for club and country, he was more in the limelight to shine against United. It was Marcus Rashford who led the charge from the front. He bagged two goals and helped his side get over the line in a crucial fixture.
Rashford was decisive in his approach to go all out, his intricate passing and mazy runs down the channels often put defenders in trouble. His quick burst of acceleration also packs a punch as Moussa Sissoko failed to cope with his pace and brought him down in the penalty area resulting in an infringement. Rashford was calm and composed in taking the penalty, which ultimately resulted in the winning goal of the match.
Considering his performance on the night, he really outshone his compatriot Harry Kane who hardly managed to hold the ball in the final third and struggled to create chances for Spurs. Therefore this will be a statement from Rashford and his capabilities.
Jose Mourinho’s system has unlocked the free-scoring Dele Alli
Dele Alli was by far Tottenham’s best player on the night as he scored a great goal against the run of play and also troubled the defenders with his sleek passing and ability to manoeuvre the ball in tight areas near the final third. The 23-year old has been sensational ever since Jose Mourinho’s appointment, it feels like the Portuguese tactician’s appointment has had an immediate effect on the attacking midfielder.
Going to the record books, Dele Alli has scored four goals in the last three matches for Spurs in all competitions since Jose Mourinho’s arrival. The only match he missed hitting the back of the net was his first match in charge against West Ham. So this can be the beginning of a new bond for the young England international as Mourinho is helping him find his goalscoring rhythm.
Manchester United dominated the midfield charge over their counterparts
It was great to see Scott McTominay back in the starting lineup. That too, with Fred also coming with an outstanding performance in the middle of the park. The young Scotland international once again proved that he is a leader of men. He managed to win 100% of the defensive aerial duels. He also had a perfect success rate with his take-on. Coupled with ten ball recoveries, 65% of his passes were progressive and came up with three interceptions and two tackles.
Meanwhile, Fred also delivered a great performance. That was, as he worked his socks off. He ran to and from and shielded the backline. Tried to keep Alli and Kane at bay. He worked hard to support McTominay. That was in order to initiate buildups from deep in midfield. All in all, it was a stunning match from the United midfielder. Especially in the double pivot of McTominay and Fred as both stepped up when needed. They won the midfield battle against Tottenham, allowing Solskjaer’s men to dictate and dominate terms throughout the game.
