Reaction, Highlights and Player Ratings : Spurs 0-3 Manchester United

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Manchester United bounced back from last week’s humiliation to secure a fantastic win at Spurs and ease some off the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – the manager rung the changes, and Cristiano Ronaldo was inspiration in a result that could still breathe some fire into a reign that looked untenable for most of this week.

Ronaldo scored the first and set up the second for Edinson Cavani before Rashford came off the bench to make it three – but the clean sheet would have been just as important to the manager, considering the criticism this campaign.

Solskjaer spoke about the importance of a reaction and it was clear that a reaction was required in terms of performance and result. The manager spoke of how the performance was the most important thing, as results can’t be guaranteed, and even though that might have upset some watching or listening, the literal interpretation of this is spot on, because performances haven’t been good enough for at least six weeks.

However, Solskjaer was in need of a result more than a performance.

The start was more positive than United’s shape of 3-4-1-2 suggested; it took until the midway point in the first half for both teams to have their first serious chance. Son, first, stabbed over for the hosts – United hit back within a minute, Fernandes overrunning the ball in an advantageous position but still creating a chance for Cavani, which was headed just wide.

Cavani was then culpable a couple of minutes later when he allowed Romero to get on to a Dier flick from a corner and force in – but he was thankful that Romero had just drifted half a yard offside.

Fred then had a decent effort from long range, before United’s defensive blushes were once again spared by the offside flag – Son appeared to spring the trap, but Wan-Bissaka made an exceptional recovery before the assistant raised his flag.

In the 39th minute, United struck first blood – Spurs were camped back as the visitors pressed high. Fernandes clipped a ball over the top and Ronaldo was lurking on the right. The legendary forward’s timing and movement remains unmatched in world football, and it’s hard to find anyone to match his finishing quality – here, it was perfect, an angled volley across goal into the far corner.

1-0 at half-time – United, in spite of a couple of shaky moments and yellow cards for Shaw and Maguire, had done pretty well. Early in the second period, Ronaldo had the ball in the net again – but had just drifted offside from McTominay’s through ball before thrashing the ball into the goal.

Spurs had a period of pressure but United defended well – and nineteen minutes into the second half, they broke magnificently to score a second. Fernandes did fantastically well to rob Skipp in midfield – he played the ball to Ronaldo, who did well to perform a trick and then play a beautiful through ball to Cavani. The Uruguayan striker’s finish was clinical and impudent. Experience, as Solskjaer had hoped, was making the difference. The timing of beating the offside trap for both goals was a lesson the manager woud have been hoping younger players were watching.

Ronaldo – having done his job – was brought off for a twenty minute rest with Rashford coming on. Solskjaer then brought on Matic for Fernandes, and Lingard for Cavani with eight minutes left.

With less than five minutes left, Matic and Rashford combined for the latter to score a cute goal to round off the victory in style.

This was the professional job Solskjaer needed after the week he’s had, particularly at a club who have had their own shares of troubles in recent weeks. How long this can go on, and how sustainable this current set up is? Time will tell.

But without question this was the most assured display of the season, at the precise time the manager needed it – and the travelling fans were quick to voice their support of the under-fire boss.

Tactics

With his future under scrutiny, Solskjaer made one of his biggest calls to ring the changes in terms of personnel and team shape.

Only two players were taken out – none of the defenders were dropped – and the width of the forward line was sacrificed for a more compact defensive shape. There is a fairly crucial point within this. Solskjaer has been given a chance to rectify what went wrong. He gave that same chance to some of these players. They stood up and delivered, albeit against a convenient opponent, but one who was pushing United until that second goal.

Before the match, Solskjaer discussed the importance of experience, giving an indication of what he deemed to be a crucial factor in what happened last week.

This, however, cannot be a long term solution, because it just can’t be that Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood will spend too much time warming the bench, and it also can’t be that perseverance in this shape is forthcoming because safety in numbers only applies when the players do not inspire confidence that there actually is safety in numbers.

This much is obvious in spite of the display.

But given how well it worked today, it may well have to be the shape and selection that continues over the next few weeks.

And, considering how successful this approach was – and how so many people who seem to want Solskjaer sacked have Conte, who favours a 3-5-2, as their preferred replacement – then maybe we’ll all be happy.

Right?

Ratings

De Gea 7

Wan-Bissaka 8

Lindelof 7

Varane 8

Maguire 7

Shaw 7

McTominay 8

Fred 7

Fernandes 8

Ronaldo 8

Cavani 8

Subs :

Rashford

Matic

Lingard

Wayne is a writer and producer. His numerous books on Manchester United include the family-authorised biography of Jimmy Murphy. He wrote and produced the BT Sport films 'Too Good To Go Down' in 2018, and 'True Genius', in 2021, both adapted from his books of the same name. In 2015 he was described by the Independent as the 'leading writer on Manchester United' and former club chairman Martin Edwards has described him as 'the pre-eminent writer on the club'.

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