Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham’s “vicious cycle” of injuries has hampered his attempt to get the troubled club back on track.
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Postecoglou is under severe pressure after a miserable run of seven Premier League games without a win, with six defeats in that dismal spell also triggering fan protests against chairman Daniel Levy.
Ahead of Sunday’s game at Brentford, Postecoglou’s side are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the relegation zone.
The Australian earned a little breathing space on Thursday when a 3-0 win against Elfsborg booked Tottenham’s place in the Europa League last 16.
But Postecoglou is battling a lengthy injury list that threatens to stop the north Londoners ending their malaise.
Postecoglou was already without Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner and James Maddison.
Romanian defender Radu Dragusin became the latest to be bitten by the injury bug when he was forced off against Elfsborg, although centre-back Micky van de Ven played 45 minutes on his return from a hamstring problem.
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“We’ve had to deal with a real extreme situation, which unfortunately once we got hit, it is then very hard to rectify on the run,” Postecoglou told reporters on Friday.
“We obviously got some significant injuries early on, which hampered our progress, and then we had to rely on a small group of players to get us through and that then burdened them.
“It has been this vicious cycle. The volume of games that clubs are playing, we’ve been in an extreme situation but a lot of clubs are facing similarities in Europe.”
It is a vital week for Tottenham, who travel to Liverpool holding a 1-0 lead in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Thursday before heading to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on February 9.
Injuries forced Postecoglou to turn to youth academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Mikey Moore and Damola Ajayi, who all scored their first goals for the club against Elfsborg.
Now the former Celtic boss is desperate to avoid any further fitness setbacks as he bids to end a Tottenham trophy drought stretching back to 2008.
“Every time I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s usually been an oncoming train,” he said.
“We seem to be losing players as we get them back. We don’t want to lose anyone else, but again, best laid plans.
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“You can’t plan for these things. We’ve got a big week coming up, starting Sunday.
“We’re going to have to do it with this core group of players, so we’ve just got to be careful about how we go about it.”
Spurs’ terrible injury crisis has spurred the club’s usually frugal chairman, Daniel Levy, into action in the transfer market.
However, their attempt to strengthen the Australian’s options, and deepen his squad, have taken a major dent with Bayern Munich teenager Mathys Tel’s decision to reject a move to the club, according to Sky Sports.
A deal reportedly worth £50m had been struck between the two clubs for the highly promising Frenchman, whose game time has been limited since joining the German giants in 2022.
It is believed the French U-21 international has knocked back the chance to unite with Postecoglou in London in favour of a loan deal to one of Manchester United, Aston Villa, or Chelsea. Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli are also interested in the highly-rated attacker, who is capable of playing across the front line.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Transfer Show, Arsenal legend Paul Merson doesn’t believe Tel’s decision is a major blight on Spurs, given the disparity between Bayern’s position and Tottenham’s.
“I wouldn’t say it’s embarrassing for Spurs. He’s coming from Bayern Munich, he’s not coming from a lesser team. No disrespect to Tottenham, but he’s coming from a huge team. He’s got to get the right move,” Merson said.
Given injuries to Solanke, Odobert, Johnson, and Werner, as well as captain Heung-Min Son’s form struggles, Tel’s decision is a major blow for Spurs. However, Sky Sports are reporting the 19-year-old isn’t the only talent pursued by the club in the final days of the January window.
According to the publication, the club are in advanced talks with AC Milan to sign former Chelsea centre back Fikayo Tomori, a move that would bolster Postecoglou’s depleted backline options.
The 27-year-old, who was integral to Milan’s league title back in 2020-21, has struggled for minutes this season, having played just 826 for the Italian giants, who sit 7th in Serie A.
Despite this drop in game time, Tomori would be a worthwhile asset for a Spurs side who’ve utilised teenager holding midfielder Archie Gray at centre back at various points this season, with the five-time England international’s recovery pace a key part of his game.
However, according to Arsenal legend Ian Wright, a few new additions to Spurs’ squad mightn’t be the silver bullet many expect, given their current injury record.
“Even if they bought three players now, they might lose more,” Wright said on a recent episode of The Overlap.
Wright believes Tottenham’s loaded schedule, which sees them play four times in the next 10 days, the constant game time the likes of Son and Dejan Kulusevski have had to ground out, and the period of adjustment most new signings require, could lead to further players being sidelined.
Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer stressed the impact new faces can have on a squad, even if they don’t take the field.
“When a couple of new players come through, it gives everyone a lift,” the 39-year-old said.
While Postecoglou’s managerial future is on the line in the coming weeks, Rooney stated his wish for the Australian to maintain his post, regardless of the outcome of their next few games.
“I hope he survives. I like him. I like his demeanour. I think, how honest he is, sometimes you can be too honest, and sometimes that comes back to kill you,” he told The Overlap.
Nottingham Forest’s fairytale Premier League season took another big step on Tuesday when the former European champions secured a draw over league leaders Liverpool at home.
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Liverpool dominated the night at the City Ground but was still forced to come from behind to settle for a draw after New Zealand striker Chris Wood put Forest in front after eight minutes.
His strike came against the run of play and took his remarkable season tally to 13 goals in 21 games.
Forest still dreamt of clinching a miraculous win well into the second half, until Diogo Jota — who had been on the field for just 22 seconds — nodded home for Liverpool from a corner.
Jota continued to make an impact, and Liverpool kept Forest under siege, but the underdogs escaped with a point to delight the home crowd.
Liverpool remains six points clear of anyone on the Premier League table.
The result also keeps Forest in second-place after 21 games, one point ahead of Arsenal, and three ahead of Chelsea, who needed a 95th minute goal from Reece James to save a draw at home to Bournemouth.
Title rivals Manchester City, meanwhile, missed the major opportunity to close the gap by coughing up a 2-0 lead to Brentford, who stunned the champions late with 82nd and 92nd goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard.
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The biggest result of the night, however, belonged to Forest whose redemption in England’s top flight continues to gather steam.
Their fairytale run has been spearheaded by a career year from striker Wood, the 33-year-old Kiwi who has been among the Premier League’s most prolific goal scorers this season.
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson noted that the City Ground “erupted” when Wood scored against the run of play.
“Forest hadn’t been out of their half in the first eight minutes. I cannot believe they are 1-0 up. They had been ripped to shreds,” he noted.
Clinton Morrison, former Republic of Ireland striker, said on the BBC: “This is why Forest are good. You don’t see them for the first five minutes and then they hit.”
Forest’s remarkable run of six successive league wins prior to Liverpool’s visit had sparked claims they could emulate Leicester’s fairytale title triumph in 2016.
This impressive performance suggested that dream should not be completely discounted, even if Liverpool remain firm favourites.
Earlier this month, Forest marked the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough’s appointment, which triggered the club’s incredible rise from the second tier to English champions in 1978 and European Cup winners in 1979 and 1980.
– Inspired Sels –
Back then, Forest and Liverpool were England’s pre-eminent forces, jousting for domestic and continental silverware on a regular basis.
For the first time since 1979, Liverpool and Forest were meeting with both teams in the top three and the retro feel was palpable on the banks of the River Trent.
Forest fans, red and white scarves twirling in the raucous atmosphere, had barely finished a stirring pre-match rendition of Mull of Kintyre before their team delivered a statement of intent that could easily have come from the Clough era.
Forest have proved lethal on the counter-attack this season and they caught Liverpool with a punishing sucker-punch from their first attack in the eighth minute.
Anthony Elanga’s pin-point pass caught Virgil van Dijk flat-footed as Wood ran in behind the Liverpool defender.
Keeping his composure, Wood slotted a clinical finish under Alisson Becker. Slot’s men dominated possession after that but struggled to break down a resolute Forest defence well marshalled by Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic.
Milenkovic and Murillo had stopped Liverpool mustering a shot on target in the first half as Mohamed Salah was held in check.
Forest and Liverpool battled to a 1-1 draw.Source: AFP
Liverpool drew level after a rare slip from Nuno’s defence in the 66th minute. Kostas Tsimikas’s corner looped into penalty area and Jota, one of the smallest players on the pitch, was given space to glance his header past Sels from five yards.
It was an inspired substitution from Slot, who had sent on Jota and Tsimikas just 22 seconds earlier.
Jota almost struck again, weaving through the Forest defence before Sels made a fine save to deny the Portugal forward.
Sels produced an even better stop moments later, throwing himself in front of Jota’s powerful close-range strike.
In a frantic finale, Dominik Szoboszlai’s blast forced another good save from Sels, while Salah’s curler was tipped over by the inspired Forest keeper.
There was nearly a dramatic winner for Liverpool but Salah’s shot was cleared off the line by Ola Aina before Sels clawed Cody Gakpo’s shot to safety.
MAN CITY BLOW LATE LEAD AT BRENTFORD, CHELSEA HELD BY BOURNEMOUTH
Manchester City’s upturn came undone as Brentford hit back to draw 2-2 on Tuesday, while Chelsea were also held by the same scoreline at home by Bournemouth.
Phil Foden’s double had City on course for a fourth consecutive win after a run of just one victory in 13 games.
However, the English champions’ defending was not convincing all night and they were punished as Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard struck in the final 10 minutes to earn Brentford a point.
Foden’s return to the form that saw him crowned Premier League player of the year last season was the one positive for City.
But Pep Guardiola will reflect on a missed opportunity to make up ground on the top four.
A point leaves City still down in sixth.
Manchester City’s upturn came undone as Brentford hit back to draw 2-2 on Tuesday.Source: Getty Images
Erling Haaland and Savinho struck the woodwork for City either side of half-time.
However, Brentford were a constant threat on the counter-attack and only a brilliant last ditch tackle from Josko Gvardiol denied Wissa the opener for the home side.
Moments later, Foden produced a brilliant deft touch from Kevin De Bruyne’s inviting delivery to score for just the third time in the Premier League this season.
Brentford then saw a host of chances to level come and go before City punished them with a sucker punch.
Savinho’s powerful effort was parried by Mark Flekken into the path of Foden, who smashed in his fourth goal in five league games.
Brentford did finally get some reward for their attacking endeavour when Wissa slotted in from Mads Roerslev’s cross to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
And they completed the comeback in stoppage time when Norgaard’s header had too much power for Stefan Ortega.
– Reece rescues Chelsea –
Chelsea’s miserable run extended to five league games without a win but they were grateful for captain Reece James’ stoppage-time equaliser salvaging a point for them against the Cherries.
Cole Palmer’s cool finish from Nicolas Jackson’s through ball had given Chelsea the perfect start.
But Bournemouth hit back despite losing both their strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal to long-term injuries.
Chelsea’s miserable run extended to five league games without a win but they were grateful for captain Reece James’ stoppage-time equaliser.Source: Getty Images
Justin Kluivert levelled from the penalty spot, before Antoine Semenyo’s blistering near-post effort put the visitors in front.
James has endured another injury-hit season but showed the quality he possesses by curling home a free-kick at the death.
West Ham boss Graham Potter enjoyed a winning home debut as Fulham were beaten 3-2 at the London Stadium.
The Hammers shrugged off an injury crisis in attacking areas to score twice in two first-half minutes.
Carlos Soler pounced on a wayward pass by Andreas Pereira to sweep in the opener before Tomas Soucek fired in from Aaron Wan Bissaka’s cross.
Alex Iwobi’s intended cross evaded everyone on its way in at the start of the second half to give Fulham hope.
Lucas Paqueta restored West Ham’s two-goal cushion to take Potter’s men above Manchester United and Tottenham into 12th.
Iwobi pulled another goal back for Fulham, but defeat leaves them still in ninth.
When Ange Postecoglou sat down for his first press conference as Tottenham manager last July, he revealed his vision for his new team.
Aside from being “successful”, Postecoglou wanted Tottenham “to be an aggressive team, a dominant team, a team who takes the game to every opposition home and away”.
With Postecoglou’s debut season as a Premier League manager in the rear-view mirror, it’s hard to argue the Australian hasn’t delivered on his plan, especially the desire to show no fear against Spurs’ opponents.
However, the same pundits who lauded Postecoglou’s bravery and ingenuity for the style of play at the start seemed to turn on him just as quickly once results began to slide.
It was a predictable discourse and one Postecoglou has faced at almost every stop in his managerial career.
However, one game – and one specific moment – proved that no matter what the pundits said, the Australian would not waver from his beliefs.
This is how Postecoglou silenced the doubters, at least for now, and guided Tottenham back to the bright lights of European football, all without the club’s record goal scorer.
Postecoglou laid out his ambitions for Tottenham in his first press conference. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ANGE REVEALS GREAT SPURS ‘HOPE AND DESIRE’ AMID GLARING $157M HOLE
Along with an outline of what he wanted from Tottenham during games, Postecoglou made it abundantly clear it would be no overnight transformation.
But, at the very least, he wanted fans to see the foundations for what was to come.
“We had a massive rebuild at Celtic but at the beginning, even though the results weren’t there, the supporters could see what we were trying to do and get behind us,” Postecoglou said.
“I don’t know whether it’s going to be a rocky start or a good start for us but my hope and desire and what I’m going to try to do is give supporters hope that we’re going to embark on something special.”
What made Postecoglou’s rebuild all the more difficult was the drawn-out transfer saga surrounding superstar striker Harry Kane.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Kane accounted for 43 per cent of Tottenham’s 70 league goals but he was so much more than just a goalscorer. Kane was Tottenham.
Kane left Tottenham to go to Bayern Munich. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Kane was sold to Bayern Munich for $157 million on the eve of Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Brentford, although Postecoglou insisted he planned for the superstar’s exit.
It’s impossible to replace Kane directly, so Postecoglou opted to upgrade several positions across the squad prior to Kane’s departure.
Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro’s temporary deals became permanent while Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Mickey van de Ven and Brennan Johnson all arrived in the summer, with Johnson joining on deadline day.
With the loss of Kane coupled with the squad needing to adapt to Postecoglou’s methods, the Australian was reluctant to set any expectations for the season ahead, at least externally.
“Again, from the outset what’s important is that we try and establish some key principles of who we want to be first of all,” Postecoglou said.
Well, if Postecoglou didn’t want to vocalise any concrete goals, the stunning unbeaten run to start the season gave fans plenty of reason to dream.
Maddison was one of Postecoglou’s first signings. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
POP ICON GETS BEHIND ANGE AS SPURS DARE TO DREAM
In Postecoglou’s first season at Celtic, a draw and three losses in the first seven league games — including a defeat to bitter rivals Rangers — had some sections of the fanbase already doubting his credentials.
It was the complete opposite at Tottenham.
Postecoglou oversaw a pulsating 2-2 draw against Brentford to start and the results that followed led to a tidal wave of positivity and optimism from Spurs supporters.
Tottenham went on a staggering 10-game unbeaten run featuring victories over Manchester United and Liverpool, albeit the latter result was dripping in controversy as the Reds were wrongly denied a goal.
Not even bitter rivals Arsenal could stop Tottenham as the first north London derby of the season ended 2-2.
Yet the one game in this dizzying run that truly united the fan base was a 2-1 victory over lowly Sheffield United.
Tottenham celebrate after scoring a late, late winner to beat Sheffield United. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Blades looked set to escape north London with a highly valuable victory and were ahead as late as the 97th minute.
Just 180 seconds later, Kulusevski scored what proved to be the game winner as the stadium erupted in a chorus of joy.
Tottenham sat in first with 26 points from a possible 30, Postecoglou was constantly serenaded to the tune of Robbie Williams’ Angels — with the pop icon even signing the amended version himself — and fans dared to dream of what could be.
But Tottenham supporters were quickly brought crashing back to earth in the club’s 11th game of the season as a reporter’s prediction about how Postecoglou’s first season would unfold came true.
Postecoglou laps up the support from the adoring Tottenham fans. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HOW EERIE PREDICTION CAME TRUE AS LOSS SPARKS GREAT DEBATE
In early November, Tottenham welcomed a Chelsea team stuck in mid-table having won just three of their opening 10 games.
Postecoglou’s side began brightly as Kulusevski scored in the sixth minute and looked a threat every time they went forward against Chelsea’s fragile backline.
But the contest flipped on its head in the 33rd minute when Tottenham defender Cristian Romero got sent off and Cole Palmer buried the resulting penalty to equalise.
It went from bad to worse for Tottenham when star duo Van de Ven and Maddison were forced off with significant injuries just before half time.
If that wasn’t grim enough, Destiny Udogie’s second yellow in the 55th minute reduced the hosts to just nine men.
Much to the surprise of the wider football community — except those who have followed Postecoglou’s career closely — Tottenham refused to park their nine men behind the ball and continued to pour numbers forward in attack.
Yes, it meant Chelsea’s speedy wingers got behind Tottenham’s defensive line with ease, but it is not the Postecoglou way to simply roll over and accept defeat.
An iconic image emphasised how wedded Postecoglou is to his philosophy and also proved The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare correct in his pre-season prediction.
“I think there will be quite a tedious debate,” Eccleshare told The View From The Lane podcast in August.
“The way this will pan out is that Postecoglou will get a lot of plaudits early on because he plays attacking football.
“But there will come a point at which they lose badly to a team they’re expected to beat because they play in this certain way.
“There will be a lot of pundits saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m all for good football but there comes a time you’ve got to shut up shop. I don’t care who you are, you’ve got to show more respect to the opposition.’”
Despite going down to nine men, Postecoglou still used a high defensive line against Chelsea. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Those critical pundits came out swinging after the Chelsea defeat.
“I have to say, there was a bit of an arrogance about not changing it,” former Chelsea defender and talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy said, adding Postecoglou’s stubbornness was “naive”.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson was equally critical.
“I’d never seen anything like it,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“But Ange Postecoglou should have changed tactics. It was very easy. If that was Man City playing Tottenham, it would have been 10-1 at least.”
Even Tottenham legend and former England manager Glenn Hoddle was stunned at Postecoglou’s refusal to adapt.
“If Tottenham keeps playing that high, near the halfway line, then I think it’s footballing suicide with 10 men,” Hoddle told Premier League Productions during the halftime break.
“They had defenders in there that they’ve had it work, but it seems to me they haven’t changed their tactics. They’ve got to change.”
Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou was peppered with questions as to why he did not change his approach with nine men on the park.
“It is just who we are mate,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.
“It is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men, we will have a go.”
Only Postecoglou could have the ability to make Tottenham fans view a 4-1 defeat to a rival team through an optimistic lens.
However, the debate slowly turned against him as results became harder to come by in the second half of the season.
Postecoglou’s approach against Chelsea had pundits questioning his bold tactics. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ANGE’S BRUTAL VERDICT AS ‘WORST EXPERIENCE’ LEAVES AUSSIE SEETHING
After the Chelsea defeat, Tottenham failed to win any of their next four games as Postecoglou grappled with a mounting injury list that exposed a worrying lack of depth, especially in defence.
Tottenham ultimately kept just one clean sheet from the Chelsea clash on November 6 through to the 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on March 10.
Conceding goals off of set pieces also proved to be problematic, with Tottenham shipping the fifth-most (16) throughout the season.
There were calls from the external world for Postecoglou to appoint a specialist set piece coach to combat the issue but the Aussie refused, insisting his assistant coaches Ryan Mason and Mile Jedinak were well-equipped at the role.
“There are far more important things that we need to concentrate on at the moment in terms of the team we’re building,” Postecoglou said.
Although Tottenham’s form in the second half of the season was patchy, the 4-0 victory over Villa had many believing a top four finish was achievable.
But Postecoglou’s side won just four out of their final 11 games as the Champions League dream slipped further and further away.
Granted, Tottenham had to face Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their final seven games.
Tottenham’s form dropped off a cliff at the end of the season. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The defeat to City proved to be especially bruising — and eye-opening — for the Aussie boss.
Tottenham had to win if they were to remain in the mix for the Champions League, but victory would have also put Arsenal in the box seat to win the Premier League title.
Lose or draw that match and they could kiss the Champions League goodbye for another season.
Sections of the Tottenham fan base made it clear they weren’t terribly fussed about losing to City, especially if it robbed their bitter rivals of a first league title in 10 years.
When asked before the game about the supporters being okay with defeat, Postecoglou bristled and responded: “I understand rivalry, but I have never, and will never, understand if someone wants their own team to lose.”
Tottenham would lose 2-0 to City amid a subdued atmosphere within the stadium as Postecoglou delivered an explosive post-match press conference where he criticised the club’s “fragile foundations”.
The defeat to Manchester City left Postecoglou with a bitter taste in his mouth. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It left The Telegraph’s Matt Law believing either Postecoglou or Tottenham had to fully adapt to the other and could not maintain their stubbornness.
“In many respects Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur are a match made in heaven,” Law wrote.
“But if the marriage is not to ultimately end in another messy divorce, then something will have to give.
“Put simply, either Tottenham have to change or Postecoglou does because the last three months have demonstrated that stubbornness from both sides will grow into something much more damaging.”
A few days after the game, the Aussie boss conceded it was “probably the worst experience” he’s had as a manager during a match and “got it wrong” in terms of what he expected the atmosphere and the fans’ sentiments to be.
Postecoglou and Tottenham managed to end the season on a high as a comfortable 3-0 win over Sheffield United ensured a spot in the Europa League for next season.
Tottenham qualified for the Europa League. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HOW PL VACUUM COULD GIVE SPURS BIG BOOST AS HISTORY ON ANGE’S SIDE
Although some may look back on Tottenham’s season wondering what could have been, Postecoglou’s debut Premier League campaign should fill supporters with optimism.
Objectively it was a better season than the 22/23 one: under Postecoglou, Tottenham finished with more points, won more games, scored more and conceded less.
Let’s not forget Postecoglou did all of this without Kane’s goals.
Another cause for a positive outlook is how Postecoglou traditionally fares in his second season at a club.
During his stints with the Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F. Marinos and Celtic, the 58-year-old averaged more points per game in his second season.
The summer window will give Postecoglou another chance to shape the squad further into his mould and ship out those who he does not believe can play his high-octane brand of football.
There could also be a serious vacuum at the top of the ladder which opens the door wide open for Postecoglou and Tottenham to return to the top four.
With Jurgen Klopp no longer at the helm for Liverpool, new boss Arne Slot will hope to avoid the slump attached to those replacing long-term managers.
There’s plenty to look forward to in Postecoglou’s second season at Tottenham. (Photo by Barrington Coombs/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
David Moyes couldn’t do it at Manchester United after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson and Unai Emery struggled at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s successor, so there’s every chance Slot and Liverpool slide down the ladder.
Chelsea will also have a new manager in Enzo Maresca as the Blues parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino despite the latter leading the club to a sixth-place finish.
There’s also a chance Aston Villa take a slight tumble as they contend with the club’s first Champions League campaign in 41 years.
A return to Europe’s elite club competition next season would represent yet another improvement for Postecoglou.
So too would winning a trophy, something Tottenham have not done since 2008.
“This is one of the worst Manchester United sides ever,” former Red Devils midfielder Robbie Savage declared as his old side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Monday morning AEST.
Former captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports: “I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were.”
While Arsenal great Paul Merson said on Sky Sports that “It was shocking” from Manchester United and claimed “Arsenal will never have an easier game than that, to be honest”.
It was United’s ninth defeat this season at Old Trafford, their equal-worst, and a club-record 14th defeat in the Premier League. It was also their 19th defeat in all competitions – their worst since 1978-79 (also 19). The Red Devils have now conceded 82 goals in all competitions this season, their most since 1970/71 (also 82).
The statistics are damning, though United have battled injuries throughout this season. Coach Erik ten Hag said that the team’s injuries – 11 players were absent from the Arsenal game – as explanation for their ongoing struggles.
“Every manager can always do better,” he said after the game. “I have been here two years and only one time had a full group of players.
“It is like swimming with your hands on your back and you have to keep your head above the water level.”
“We have problems, the problems cost us results. But I don’t know where we should be when we have all the players on board,” he added.
“If you have the players on board, you get more points. Especially in the backline, we concede a lot of chances and a lot of goals. Last season, we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.”
Manchester United’s famous Old Trafford is falling apart.Source: Getty ImagesThe stadium flooded after the game.Source: Getty Images
The injuries meant midfielder Casemiro was deployed at centre-back again, despite a horror individual performance in their 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace last time out. The Brazilian great was again poor and was miserably caught out for Leandro Trossard’s goal.
But United aren’t the only team to have struggled with a host of injuries this campaign – and Merson believes that the eighth-placed Premier League team can’t use injuries as an excuse.
As he said on Sky Sports: “It was shocking.
“They just had 145 touches in the final third, and two shots on target. One was from Casemiro from 40 yards which I could have saved it.
“It’s not good enough, you can’t lose nine games at home, this is Manchester United.
“You can have 10 or 11 injuries, Luton have had 10 or 11 injuries. Chelsea have got 10 or 11 injuries, big players like Reece James who is first choice and the captain of the club. And Chelsea are still going to finish above them.”
It was too easy for Arsenal.Source: Getty Images
Keane said: “The disappointment for me, particularly the last half an hour, was Manchester United.
“Arsenal players will be in the dressing room saying ‘how easy was that’ – they hardly got into second gear. They knew when they got their goal and are so solid at the back it was game over. I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad Manchester United were.”
“You look at that last half an hour – the decision making, nobody digging anybody out, people making mistakes and falling over, and everyone just walking away, nobody putting demands on each other,” he added.
“That United team there … they’re so bad.”
New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has taken charge of the club’s football department, was in attendance for the game at Old Trafford alongside members of the ‘Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force’.
It was fitting that they were there today, as the leaky old stadium’s poor condition was exposed by heavy rainfall.
The roof leaked heavily, pouring water down onto the pitch and stands. Cascades of water ran down the steps of some stands. Even the away dressing room was beset by water leaking through the roof.
The task force has been charged with deciding whether to refurbish the ageing ‘Theatre of Dreams’ (though some fans aptly renamed it the Theatre of Streams) or build an entirely new stadium.
It’s just one of many questions facing Ratcliffe as he looks to turn around the club’s fortunes in the off-season.
The future of manager Ten Hag is under a dark cloud, while a squad overhaul is also expected.
When it rains, it pours, so to speak.
Club legend Wayne Rooney was asked on Sky Sports about Ten Hag, and instead pointed to the players as being to blame.
Rooney said: “When you’re losing games in the way they’re losing games, there’s going to be big questions asked.
“I think the players have to look at themselves, when you’ve got a manager talking about attitudes and players not being right to play for Manchester United, that’s a massive insult. If I see my manager saying that, there’s no way I would let that ride and ride until the end of the season.
“I think some players are just trying to get to the end of the season, that’s my opinion on it. So I feel for him, but that’s his job to make sure the players are right.”
Ten Hag is rapidly running out of time to get his players right – and to save his job.
United host Newcastle on Thursday morning AEST before the final-round match with Brighton, and almost certainly need to beat both to finish in the top six and seal a place in the Europa League.
Finishing in seventh means they would play in the third-tier Conference League in Europe next season – unless they can beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May.
Win that trophy, and Erik ten Hag’s men automatically earn a place in the Europa League.
But even that might not be enough to save Ten Hag’s job.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has hilariously vowed to get a Tottenham tattoo if they’re able to beat Manchester City on Tuesday.
This season’s Premier League title race will be decided on the final day of the season next Sunday after the Gunners won 1-0 against Manchester United.
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Arsenal are back at the top of the table ahead of their final game of the seasonCredit: Getty
Victory has put Mikel Arteta’s side back at the top of the table and a point ahead of City. However, the champions have a game in hand as they take on Spurs.
Should Pep Guardiola’s side fail to win in north London then Arsenal, who have a better goal difference of +3, will be in the box seat going into the final day.
But Merson, who won two league titles with Arsenal, doesn’t believe Spurs can pull off a result against City, making a pretty confident proposal to show how sure he is about City’s ability to get the win they need.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “If you’re relying on Tottenham to win a football match or draw a football match… yeah… no.
“If they win that, I’ll have a Tottenham tattoo, I will,” he added.
When asked where he’d have it, he laughed and said: “Where you can’t see it!”
Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Kai Havertz admitted that for once he’s fully behind Ange Postecoglou’s men.
“I’m going to be the biggest fan of Tottenham ever, I think. We’re all going to be so let’s hope for the best,” Havertz told Sky Sports.
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The Gunners will be hoping that Spurs can get at least a draw against CityCredit: Getty
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But City have won their last seven league games and haven’t lost since DecemberCredit: Getty
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Merson isn’t confident Spurs will win, but will get a tattoo in honour of them if they doCredit: @SkySportsPL X
Victory for Spurs could boost their hopes of a top four finish, but this is only if Aston Villa fail to beat Liverpool on Monday night, live on talkSPORT.
The goal difference between the two sides stands at eight, with Villa on +20 and Spurs on +12, and Merson believes this could be crucial.
“If Villa got beat tomorrow by two or three, all of a sudden the goal difference changes a bit,” he said.
“Then they get beat by one or two at [Crystal] Palace, so if they lost their next two games by two clear goals, and I’m not talking out of ordinary here, that’s four goals.
“If they win that, I’ll get a Tottenham tattoo!”
Paul Merson has ZERO faith in Tottenham to help out their North London rivals against Manchester City pic.twitter.com/vWVlkbF0In
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 12, 2024
“Then all of a sudden, Tottenham get a draw against Man City and then I’m having a tattoo and then they’ve got to put six past Sheffield United, it all goes down to tomorrow.”
Merson further ensured he’ll stick to his word over the tattoo, saying: “It’ll be that little cockerel on the ball, I will have it, I tell you I will have it.”
Gunners boss Arteta was jokingly asked after their win at United if he’ll watch Tuesday night’s match in Spurs pyjamas in a show of support.
However, he laughed it off and said: “I watch all the games. It’s true, we need that result to achieve it, and on top of that we have to do our job, so everything is at stake.”
“It’s football, there’s always possibilities,” he added as all eyes point towards the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium midweek.
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The title race will go down to the wire whatever happens on Tuesday night
Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat at home against North London derby rivals Arsenal exposed a major issue that dogged Spurs all season. But Ange Postecoglou steadfastly refuses to follow a clear trend in modern football that could address his team’s significant weakness.
Two of Arsenal’s goals came from inswinging corners, the first an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the 15th minute before a Kai Havertz close-range header before the interval.
His goal marked the first time Spurs had fallen to a 3-0 deficit at home to their North London rivals since 1959.
But when Spurs fought back in the second half, Arsenal’s ability to defend corners at the death was crucial to preserving their lead.
Arsenal have scored 22 goals from set pieces and conceded six this season – including 16 goals from corners, the most from a Premier League team since West Brom under Tony Pulis in 2016-17 (16).
Spurs, meanwhile, have scored 11 from set pieces this season but conceded 14. The differential between the two sides’ set pieces this season is a whopping 19 goals.
Tottenham’s defence for the opening goal was particularly problematic – with Spurs players ‘ball-watching’ and allowing attackers to run past them.
Paul Merson said on Sky Sports: “If you look every Arsenal player is behind. The Tottenham players are all watching, it’s the worst thing you could ever do as a defender.
“I wasn’t a defender, but I know the game. You can’t let those players get goal side of you, and every one of them virtually ends up on the other side of the player.
“They end up being in behind them. It’s unbelievable.
“You wouldn’t see this happen in an under-12 football match. Look at every one of them is behind them now they’re all goal side. It’s unbelievable.”
A key figure on the touchline for the match was Nico Jover, Arsenal’s set piece coach who has been a major part of their title challenge this campaign.
In the final minutes, he paced the sideline, screaming instructions as the Gunners repelled corner after corner from Spurs.
Postecoglou and Arteta.Source: Getty Images
Postecoglou, as per usual, stood alone. He has steadfastly refused to hire a specialist set piece coach, even as the role becomes the norm at many elite clubs.
In March, Postecoglou explained that decision by saying he didn’t want to “separate set pieces from everything else we do”.
He said: “I’ve never had a specific set-piece coach. I’ve always had someone who’s responsible for that. I always think it’s better if that’s somebody who’s a part of the coaching staff because then that’s an extension of how we play our football.
“I don’t separate set pieces from everything else we do, in terms of the team we want to be. It all hopefully links in.
“Here we’ve split the roles between Mile [Jedinak] and Ryan Mason in terms of attacking and defensive set pieces and they put a lot of work into it with the analysis staff. I’m sure every club does. Some have gone down the specialised route which I understand. It’s just it’s not how I work.
“I always try to create a collective environment for everything we do, so that nothing is separated. I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing in specialists for one particular area. Just for the way I work more than anything else.”
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It was a tough defeat for Postecoglou’s Spurs.Source: Getty Images
After today’s defeat, Postecoglou admitted that set pieces remained a problem but once again downplayed the issue.
“If I thought fixing defensive set pieces was the answer to us bridging the gap then I’d put all of my time and effort into that. But that’s not where we’re at,” he said.
“For us it’s about focusing on the details of, not just set pieces, but a lot of moments in games where we don’t sense that you give good opposition the time and the space to do that are going to hurt you.
“I don’t think it’s about one part of it, I think it’s a bigger, broader picture than that, but our defensive set pieces for those two were very poor.
“But there’s a lot more than that to fix. It’s about now over the course of time getting from where we are to where we want to get to.
“To do that we’re still not absolutely laser focused on the details, the small things that get you from where we are to become a team that contends.
“Credit to Arsenal, they’re there now. They’re a team that does deal with the details well and we don’t.”
Postecoglou is right to highlight that Spurs need to improve in many ways – as their inability to hold off Arsenal on the counter-attack for the second Gunners’ goal showed.
But the statistics show that set pieces are a major weakness for Tottenham all season, and it could cost them a top four berth and lucrative Champions League qualification.
Spurs currently sit fifth, seven points off Aston Villa – and with a goal differential six worse – but with two games in hand.
Latest win has Arsenal on top of the PL | 01:05
Part of Arsenal’s success at set pieces this season has been down to Ben White becoming something of a menace in the box – and he was up to his usual tricks against Tottenham.
At one corner, he attempted to undo keeper Guglielmo Vicario’s gloves. For Havertz’s headed goal, White pushed Vicario into the Tottenham goal.
Vicario has shown a weakness against set pieces all season, unable to effectively marshal his six-yard box. Teams are clearly targeting him.
But most teams have attempted to nullify White’s influence in dead ball scenarios by deploying a player to deny him access to the six-yard box, or to shield their goalkeeper from the Arsenal man. Spurs failed to do so, and paid a heavy price.
Speaking about the Havertz headed goal, Arsenal legend Ian Wright said on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live: “They couldn’t deal with it. The balls in were amazing, but when you look at them at the back there, no-one’s protecting Vicario because I think when you look where this header is, if he’s got some protection he might be able to get himself in a position to get close to the front post.
“Second half they put Pape Sarr on [to shield Vicario] but it’s too late, it’s a big mistake for me from the coaching staff.”
Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for both teams, added: “For me, you can’t concede two goals like that, it’s not normal.”
Manchester City cruised into the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a second-straight 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen, while Real Madrid were pushed all the way by RB Leipzig but narrowly escaped.
Defending champions City won the first leg 3-1 and needed just five minutes to stretch that advantage in the second leg, with centre-back Manuel Akanji volleying exquisitely from a Julian Alvarez corner.
In the ninth minute, Alvarez doubled the lead with a cross-shot straight at goalkeeper Kamil Grabara – only for the former Liverpool gloveman to horribly let it slip through his hands into the net.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former England star Paul Merson claimed: “My six-year-old would have caught that!”
Copenhagen keeper gift wraps City goal | 00:31
Grabara, the captain, infamously had a public spat with Socceroos keeper Maty Ryan over the starting position at Copenhagen, leading to Ryan leaving the club for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
But Copenhagen hit back through an exceptional counter-attack just before the half-hour mark, with former Southampton star Mohamed Elyounoussi finishing off a well-worked move.
City responded before the interval when Erling Haaland clinically swept home from a cut-back.
While they comfortably cruised towards victory, City did cop a second-half blow as Matheus Nunes appeared to dislocate a finger in the second stanza – though he was seen smiling on the bench after having the joint realigned by team medicos.
City turned to a number of youngsters off the bench and came close to extending their advantage on multiple occasions.
City rested a host of stars for the second leg, making seven changes from their 3-1 win over Manchester United on the weekend.
It comes ahead of a massive clash with Premier League title rivals Liverpool on the weekend, with coach Pep Guardiola taking the opportunity to rest his first team following the strong first-leg result.
Phil Foden, who was man of the match against United with two goals, was benched along with Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake and Bernardo Silva. Belgian winger Jeremy Doku did not make the bench in a potential injury concern.
Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo and Erling Haaland kept their spots in the starting XI.
Jude Bellingham brilliantly assisted Vinicius Junior for Madrid’s crucial goal against RB Leipzig.Source: Getty Images
REAL MADRID SURVIVE HUGE SCARE
Meanwhile, Real Madrid were pushed all the way in a frustrating and often heated tussle with RB Leipzig.
Madrid entered the match with a 1-0 lead from the away leg, but struggled to find any rhythm and were incredibly lucky to avoid conceding as Leipzig had a host of strong first-half chances.
Tackles flew in from both teams as tensions rose, with Vinicius Junior perhaps lucky to avoid a red card in the 54th minute after fouling a rival then following it up by shoving him to the ground.
In the 65th minute, Vinicius scored his third goal in five Champions League matches to finally break the deadlock. Toni Kroos started a length-of-the-field counter-attack by feeding Jude Bellingham, who played the Brazilian star into the box for a tidy finish – Madrid’s two attacking superstars finally combining effectively. It was Madrid’s first shot on target of the match.
Chelsea boss backs Sam Kerr | 01:20
But just three minutes later Willi Orban levelled the score with a header following a Leipzig corner. Dani Carvajal failed to properly clear the first ball in, and it was crossed back in for Orban to finally hand Leipzig a deserved goal.
Leipzig were the better team for much of the game and came close to sending the match to extra-time when Dani Olmo hit the crossbar in stoppage time with a deft chip.
Leipzig finished with 20 shots to Madrid’s 12, and had eight corners to three.
TEAMS
Real Madrid (4-4-2) Andriy Lunin; Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho Fernandez (capt), Ferland Mendy; Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde; Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior
RB Leipzig (4-4-2) Peter Gulacsi; Benjamin Henrichs, Castello Lukeba, Willi Orban (capt), David Raum; Xaver Schlager, Amadou Haidara, Dani Olmo, Xavi Simons; Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko
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Recap the action from Madrid and Leipzig live below!
Manchester United were finally bit in the backside as an alarming trend continued as Arsenal continue to plunder in goals.
Elsewhere, a once-maligned winger is leading Aston Villa’s charge to the Champions League while the fight for survival is all but over for two teams courtesy of the Premier League’s newest manager.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
RED DEVILS ‘FOUND OUT’ AS ALARMING TREND FINALLY BITES
Prior to Manchester United’s clash against Fulham, they’d gone unbeaten in five Premier League matches with four wins in that time.
Those victories had rocketed the Red Devils right back into the conversation for Champions League football and were only five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
But look below the surface and even though United were winning, they had been getting away with defensive murder.
In the first game of the unbeaten run, a 2-2 draw at home against Tottenham, United conceded 16 shots.
United escaped with a 4-3 victory against Wolves despite the latter enjoying 16 shots and followed it up with a 3-0 win over West Ham who had 22 shots.
Despite conceding 23 shots, Erik ten Hag’s side beat Aston Villa 2-1 and allowed Luton to have 22 shots in a 2-1 win for the Red Devils.
Against Fulham, the trend continued as the Cottagers enjoyed 17 shots but they did what the other teams failed to do, as Alex Iwobi’s 97th-minute strike condemned United to a 2-1 defeat.
Manchester United have conceded a staggering amount of shots for a prolonged period of time. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Looking back on United’s run, it’s perhaps a minor miracle they were unbeaten in five despite conceding a minimum of 16 shots in every match.
It’s why former England international Paul Merson believed the run had been “covering over the cracks” as the Fulham defeat finally exposed United’s luck.
“They have all been ‘Pollyfilla’ results in the last five or six weeks,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“They have just been covering over the cracks.
“They scored with the last kick of the game against Wolves. It was snatch and grab at Aston Villa. They weren’t better than Villa that day. They beat West Ham 3-0 but that was never a 3-0 football match.
“They were covering over the cracks and they got found out again today.”
With a trip to cross-town rivals Manchester City up next, Ten Hag and his troops can ill afford to allow so many shots to a team blessed with one of the most formidable attacks in world football.
If they can’t tighten up, it could get very, very ugly.
The Red Devils’ winning streak was snapped by Fulham. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
GUNNER’S NINE-YEAR FIRST UNDERLINES RUTHLESS STREAK
When Arsenal wobbled over the festive period with a draw against Liverpool and subsequent defeats against West Ham and Fulham, it left some thinking the Gunners would slip out of the title race.
Well, six wins in a row was as perfect a response Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could have demanded from his players.
But it’s not just the wins that have been most impressive. It’s how dominant Arsenal have been.
The theme of utterly pulverising their rivals continued for the Gunners as Newcastle became the latest victims of a rampant attacking unit in a 4-1 win for Arteta’s side.
Those four goals took Arsenal’s tally to 25 scored in their last six — an average of 4.2 goals per game — showcasing the team’s ruthless streak intent on burying every chance they get.
Arsenal have been scoring goals for fun lately. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But it has been matched by a steeliness at the back, with just three goals conceded in those six games.
One figure central to the goalfest has been superstar winger Bukayo Saka.
The England international’s goal against Newcastle meant he’d scored in five consecutive games, the first Arsenal player to do so since Olivier Giroud back in 2015.
To further illustrate the 22-year-old’s remarkable run of form, his seven goals since the turn of the year is the most of anyone in the Premier League.
Up next for the Gunners is a trip to Sheffield United, a team that has conceded an average of three goals per match in their last five games.
With Saka and the rest of Arsenal’s forwards in blistering form, Blades fans would be forgiven if they are accused of taking part in a fire drill before half time at Bramall Lane.
Bukayo Saka has scored in five consecutive games for the Gunners. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
STAR’S STUNNING 12-MONTH TURNAROUND BEHIND DARK HORSE’S CL PUSH
A lot can happen in the space of 12 months.
Just ask Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, who joined the Birmingham-based club for $57 million in 2021.
In January last year, the Jamaican winger was in a flood of tears and had to be picked up off the ground by his teammates after missing an open goal in a 1-1 draw against Wolves at Villa Park.
But in Villa’s 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Bailey was one of the home side’s best.
In fact, Bailey has been in superb form for quite some time and was deservedly rewarded with an upgraded contract until 2027.
His performance against Forest underlined yet another reason why he earned a new deal, scoring Villa’s fourth and providing the sweetest of assists for Ollie Watkins to kickstart the goal fest.
Bailey breezed past Forest left back Moussa Niakhate with an intelligent run on the right wing before collecting the ball where he subsequently nutmegged two defenders and squared it across goal for an easy tap-in for Watkins.
Leon Bailey (left) scored and assisted during Villa’s 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A deeper look at the numbers behind Bailey’s resurgence paints a picture of why he’s become so dangerous.
Per Opta, Bailey has the second-highest expected assists (xA) figure this season with 0.31, behind only Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku.
That puts Bailey ahead of the likes of Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Bruno Fernandes.
Yet what makes it even more remarkable is that group of five players have played a minimum of 1577 minutes this season, with Fernandes even clocking 2160 minutes.
As for Bailey, he’s played only 1169, meaning he is making significant impacts in a shortened period of time.
With the end of the 23/24 Premier League season just months away, Bailey’s brilliance will be pivotal as Villa chases a Champions League spot.
Bailey is in the form of his life at Aston Villa. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
DREADED RETURN NEARS FOR STRUGGLING DUO AS NEW BOSS OFFERS NEEDED BREATH OF FRESH AIR
With every passing game, Burnley and Sheffield United trudge closer and closer to an instant return to the Championship.
Both teams racked up their 19th defeats of the season over the weekend, with a 10-man Burnley going down 3-0 to Crystal Palace while Sheffield United fought amongst themselves in a 1-0 loss to Wolves.
The pair are stuck on 13 points each, eight adrift from safety, as Burnley remain ahead only on goal difference.
It’s hard to see any reality in which one of the two somehow survive and if they do, Vincent Kompany (Burnley) or Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) would be fully deserving of the manager of the year award.
One team who has managed to pull away from the gravitational pull of the relegation fight is Palace, as new boss Oliver Glasner began his Selhurst Park reign in style.
Kitted out in a Canada Goose jacket and a pair of white Nike TN’s, Glasner oversaw a comfortable win in which they restricted Burnley to just two shots the entire game.
Granted, the Eagles took until the 68th minute to break the deadlock — 33 minutes after Burnley were reduced to ten men — but from there the goals flowed.
Of course, there should be cautious optimism at Palace given it was a win over Burnley, the team with the second-highest number of goals conceded.
But, crucially, it is a platform with which Glasner and his new team can build from.
The win pushed Palace up to 13th and onto 28 points, eight points away from the relegation zone.
It certainly seems like the magical 40-point mark for safety won’t be needed this season and with a home double against Luton and Newcastle coming up, Palace might be able to secure survival within the coming games.
United had won their previous four Premier League games to rekindle hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but a 2-1 defeat leaves them eight points adrift of Villa.
“Mate they were shocking. I’m not exaggerating, absolutely shocking,” ex-Premier League star and Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson said
“How they can think they can get in the top four – and what’s the point of getting in the top four anyway? Just to get into the Champions League? They’re not going to win it, so what’s the point in being in it?“
Manchester United lost in stoppage time. Picture: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Ratcliffe revealed his ambition to topple Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the English game within three years.
But the work that lies ahead of the British billionaire on and off the field was exposed as Fulham dominated a ragged United for long spells.
“You put all that money in and you watch that today and they are a gillion miles away. … I don’t know where they’re going to catch up,” Merson said.
“He (Ratcliffe) went ‘I want to take over Man City’ – well pull it in, try and take over a couple of the others first.
“The last five or six weeks, they’ve just been covering over the cracks … and all of sudden they got found out today by a Fulham team.
“It’s not like their serial winners who know how to play away from home.”
Merson said he’d be “shocked” if United got “anywhere near the league title” in the short-term.
“If Man United won the league in the next five years, whoever’s the manager should get knighted,” he said.
Fulham finally took one of their chances midway through the second half when Calvin Bassey lashed home his first goal for the Cottagers from a corner.
Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United. Picture: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
United looked to have snatched a point against the run of play late on when Harry Maguire tapped in after Bernd Leno spilled Bruno Fernandes’ effort.
But there was another twist in the tale as Fulham secured their first away win since the opening day of the season.
Adama Traore left Maguire trailing in his wake before teeing up Iwobi to curl inside Andre Onana’s near post.
“The players deserved it, clearly the best team won the game,” said Fulham boss Marco Silva.
“We were the team which played better, created more chances and had more control of the game.”
FODEN SAVES CITY
Manchester City edged past Bournemouth 1-0 to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to one point.
City were again far from their flowing best but, just like in a 1-0 victory over Brentford in midweek, did enough to keep their title challenge on track.
The in-form Phil Foden scored the only goal at the Vitality Stadium as the England international stroked into an empty net for his 16th goal of the season after Neto parried Erling Haaland’s initial effort.
At the other end, Ederson was required to save City from dropping two costly points when he kept out Dominic Solanke’s header on the line by the finest of margins.
And former City forward Enes Unal was inches away from an equaliser when his header shaved the post in stoppage time.
VILLA SURGE CLEAR AFTER BIG WIN
Aston Villa opened up a five-point lead over Tottenham in the battle for a top-four finish with a 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest, despite a wobble either side of half-time against Forest.
Unai Emery’s men were coasting towards a first home win of 2024 as they led 3-0 inside 39 minutes.
Ollie Watkins tapped in Leon Bailey’s cross after just four minutes before Douglas Luiz struck twice.
Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team’s third goal. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Forest remain just four points above the relegation zone and reacted too late to help their survival hopes.
Moussa Niakhate pulled a goal back deep into first-half stoppage time before Morgan Gibbs-White’s delightful dink cut Forest’s deficit to one just three minutes into the second period.
However, Villa quickly restored their two-goal cushion when Leon Bailey tapped in after Watkins’ initial effort was saved.
“We played a really fantastic match in the first half and only the first 15 minutes of the second half we had some doubts, but we stayed calm and reacted well,” said Emery.
GLASNER’S DREAM STAR
Oliver Glasner got off to a dream start as Crystal Palace manager with a 3-0 win over 10-man Burnley.
Palace had won just three times in 20 games stretching back to September to bring Roy Hodgson’s second spell in charge to an end.
Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner could not have wished for a kinder fixture to start against a Burnley side seemingly destined for an immediate return to the Championship.
Any hope of a first win this year for Vincent Kompany’s men disappeared with a first-half red card for Josh Brownhill.
Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, celebrates after Jordan Ayew scores the team’s second goal. Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Chris Richards opened the floodgates 22 minutes from time as Palace moved eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Jordan Ayew made it 2-0 before Jean Philppe-Mateta’s penalty rounded off the scoring.
Everton were denied a huge win in their battle to beat the drop by Lewis Dunk’s 95th minute equaliser for Brighton in a 1-1 draw at the Amex.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s thumping finish on 73 minutes opened the scoring before Brighton were reduced to 10 men when Billy Gilmour saw red.
But Everton could not hold on as Dunk headed in Pascal Gross’ cross. A point edges Sean Dyche’s men one point clear of the relegation zone.
Ange Postecoglou may have finished fifth in the voting for the best FIFA men’s coach in 2023, but a glowing endorsement from a former Tottenham star showed exactly why the Australian boss is hot property.
Postecoglou was shortlisted for the award alongside Pep Guardiola, Luciano Spalletti, Simone Inzaghi and Xavi.
Guardiola took out the award by some margin, with Spalletti and Inzaghi finishing with the second and third-most scoring points respectively.
Coaches would receive five points if they were voted first by the international captain, coach or media member, with second place gaining three points and just the solitary point for those in third.
Tottenham skipper Heung-Min Son, who has flourished under the tutelage of Postecoglou this season, named the Aussie as his first choice for the award.
Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan also named Postecoglou as his first choice.
But the one player who will have raised a few eyebrows with his votes was Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.
Kane, who left Tottenham on the eve of the 23/24 Premier League season for Bayern in a $AUD169 million deal, put Postecoglou third.
Liverpool star Andy Robertson, a boyhood Celtic fan, also displayed his admiration for Postecoglou’s work by naming him as his second choice for the award.
Veteran Portugal defender Pepe included Postecoglou in his votes too, with the Aussie voted as his third choice.
The respect shown by international skippers in their votes for Postecoglou emphasises the regard in which he is now held, especially given the revival he has overseen since joining Tottenham.
And Tottenham’s latest result, a 2-2 draw away to Manchester United, was more evidence to prove just as much.
Postecoglou named two goalkeepers and three outfield players from the academy on his bench for the Red Devils clash, with new signing Radu Dragusin, Bryan Gil and Emerson Royal the only senior outfield players among the substitutes.
Even in the starting lineup, Oliver Skipp and Destiny Udogie had battled illness during the week while Timo Werner was thrust into the starting lineup despite training twice with his new teammates.
First choice centre backs Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven also started, with the former “probably two weeks ahead of schedule” on his injury rehab while Van de Ven hadn’t played in two-and-a-half months.
Ange’s army draw even with Man United | 01:54
Throw in the absence of Son, James Maddison, Ben Davies, Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso, Dejan Kulusevki and Pape Matar Sarr, who are all absent through international duty or injury, and it paints the sheer scale of Postecoglou’s task at settling on a lineup.
Despite the lengthy list of absences Postecoglou managed to guide his team to a valuable point, although some felt Tottenham could and perhaps should have left Old Trafford with the win.
The draw kept Tottenham in fifth place, but are now equal on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.
It’s a remarkable achievement to be that high when one considers how many injuries Postecoglou has been forced to deal with.
But the fact his players continue to walk head-on through adversity and come out the other side which has the Aussie boss delighted.
“The only reason we’re in the position we are is because we’ve had players who are prepared to put aside whatever adversity we’re going through and give everything they have,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.
Postecoglou has had to deal with a lengthy injury list at Tottenham this season. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“These guys are giving me everything, whoever is out there, whether it’s guys playing out of position, guys who haven’t played in a while, guys coming back from injury, they just give everything.
“It’s not always smooth but there’s no manager on this planet who wouldn’t feel like they’re in the right place when they see the kind of effort these guys are putting in every week.”
Postecoglou’s masterful ability to extract every ounce of effort from his side and have a clear, defined brand of football had pundits purring after the draw against Manchester United.
If anything, the fixture pointed to the staggering difference between Tottenham and the Red Devils, all because Postecoglou has a plan.
“Look at where they’ve been in the last years, it feels like they have a plan now under Postecoglou. They have bought well, brought some good players and they are a good football team.
Postecoglou has Tottenham only a few points off top spot. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
“They are a bit loose at times but they play entertaining football.
“The problem they have, a bit like Man Utd and Chelsea, is they can be inconsistent. They will have a poor result like the heavy defeat at Brighton. But then they can turn things around with a few good wins before another poor result.
“I like the way they play and to me, it looks like they are getting somewhere.”
“He said they were in the title race, that’s refreshing for Spurs fans to hear. So often they’ve never really spoken like that or had that ambition that they should have.
“Right now, with their squad, and I’ve been critical over the last few years of how their style of play is, there’s a difference about them and the manager deserves so much credit for that.”
With Romero and Van de Ven back playing, Maddison nearing a return from injury along with the international stars soon to return, Postecoglou might finally have a full-strength team to pick from in the coming weeks.
Couple that with only the FA Cup to worry about outside of the Premier League and Postecoglou will undoubtedly fancy his chances of guiding Tottenham back to the Champions League.
If he can pull that off, it won’t just be the likes of Kane, Son, Robertson and Pepe voting for him should the Aussie be shortlisted for the best men’s coach again.
