In part two of his second interview with the official Manchester United media team [manutd.com], Erik ten Hag said that the 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur was the “best performance in the first 14 games in the Premier League”.
United defeated Antonio Conte’s side 2-0 in the middle of October with goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes, but it was the manner in which ten Hag’s team played that impressed many because it was the first time in a long time that United controlled, dictated and dominated a top six team from the start til the end.
The performance. The team spirit. The atmosphere.
Special, special night ❤️#MUFC || #MUNTOT pic.twitter.com/pWR7n5rgto
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 19, 2022
From ten Hag’s perspective, the performance would have given greater satisfaction because it is the type of style that he wants his team to play going forward, pressing high, holding a high line, dominating the ball and looking a threat from attacking positions. The win over Spurs had the hallmarks of what ten Hag wants his United team to look like and the challenge is to now back it up on a more consistent basis, so that it becomes second nature to the team.
Ten Hag was asked about the win over Tottenham by MUTV’s Danny Webber, who interviewed the Dutchman for the club’s media channels and despite acknowledging that the performances against Everton and Chelsea were impressive, he says that the win over Spurs was the “best performance” [of the season so far].
“I think we played some more good games, like Everton away, Chelsea was a really good performance. But Spurs definitely. I think on that night, we played the best performance in this first 14 games in the Premier League. That is like the standard we have to build on and we have to progress.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 19, 2022
If you want to challenge for league titles, then this possession based and high pressing style of play is the way forward because it will allow United to play more on the front foot, whilst also having the ability to sustain attacks and keep the opposition as far away from your own goal as possible.