Many predict a draw between Manchester United and Tottenham when the two teams meet at Old Trafford in round 6 of the 2024-2025 Premier League.
While it was a result that will disappoint Man United, it also showed how few chances the visitors from London had.
However, the final result was something no one could believe. Even if the “Red Devils” were inconsistent on their journey, losing 0-3 was beyond imagination.
And of course, even those who left early before the match ended, all eyes would be on Erik ten Hag, who stood outside the field in silence.
The Dutchman has lined up his team with what he believes is the best way for United to score goals - something they need most at the moment after managing just one goal from 33 shots in their last two games.
But, again, 11 more shots, the goal was still somewhere far away from the red of Manchester. The opponents had 3 goals, in a match where they had 24 shots.
Andre Onana was the bright spot in goal with 8 saves but it was still not enough. What was the reason for Tottenham to play such a comfortable match right at the "Devil's Den"?
Because right on their home field, Ten Hag's students showed their ugly side. A dark side of them that social networks still cheerfully - but quite poignantly - liken to "Devil's blood".
5 yellow cards and 1 red card, 16 fouls. Representative of that ugliness was the tackle by Bruno Fernandes - the captain, at the end of the first half.
And people do not forget that, in the match against Crystal Palace on September 21, center-back Lisandro Martinez had a tackle that made people shudder and fear for the "victim's" career if that "landing" hit the target...
Martinez was also one of the players who received a yellow card in the match against Tottenham and before that, in the match against Twente in the Europa League, and against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Man United is not on the list of teams receiving the most yellow and red cards, nor does any player in the group receive the most cards, but there is still a rough, ugly feeling from the "Red Devils".
While it is commendable to show enthusiasm, there is a fine line between enthusiasm and ugliness. Sometimes it is found that there are certain things that are inherent in a person’s nature that can burst forth under the “right circumstances.”
Emotion control seems to be a problem for Man United of late. There must be something in the dressing room - even if they insist there is nothing, and not just under Ten Hag…
