Matthijs de Ligt extended Manchester United's unbeaten streak to 5 matches with a dramatic equalizer in the extra time against Tottenham. Richarlison had previously seemed to have brought Spurs a spectacular victory.
Having been praised by fans for replacing Xavi Simons with Mathys Tel in the 79th minute, Spurs manager Thomas Frank was cleared of the situation when Tel equalized 1-1. In the first half, Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Man United.
Another chaotic match for Thomas Frank
Tottenham continued to be scolded in the first half, for the second consecutive week. When the final whistle blew, surprise engulfed everything. The three late goals created an extreme emotional whirlwind for everyone who witnessed the match.
When things are calm, this draw could bring some satisfaction in some way. However, conceding an equalizer in the 96th minute from a set piece against a team with only 10 men will certainly bring a very disappointing feeling.
Amid all this development, Frank has had to face signs of disagreement from home fans, reflecting the anxiety that is covering Tottenham at the moment.
When Spurs were 1-0 down, Frank decided to replace Simons with Tel in the 79th minute. The immediately quailing appeared, adding to the pressure on Frank when Tottenham went through a match lacking creativity.
In that context, Tel's rotation in the box and shot past Senne Lammens was an unjust act for Frank. The decision to keep Richarlison on the pitch was also rewarded, although Spurs eventually dropped 3 points in extra time.
The final result helped the "Roosters" stick close to the top 4, but Frank understood that the task of convincing everyone in the club was still very long.
"Sometimes you can be lucky, but I always affirm that every time I make a substitution decision, the goal is always to help the team win, regain the game or maintain the result, depending on the situation.
There is only one goal, which is to try to win the match. There is no doubt. Mathys played very well, scored a great goal, and actively participated in the attack. Overall, we had a good game, positive spirit, but sometimes you need a little refreshment" - Frank said.
Man United will miss Mbeumo and Amad Diallo
Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have become important linkages in Ruben Amorim's attack this season. The duo's growing understanding was once again proven when Amad's pass created a first-half goal for Mbeumo.
Mbeumo has now scored six Premier League goals for the Red Devils since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2025, making the team more dangerous in attack. Meanwhile, Amad has also shown impressive form since last season, proving his ability to play well on both wings in Amorim's 3-4-3 formation.
However, the bad news for Man United is that both players will participate in the AFCON Football Cup next month and may have to miss nearly 6 weeks. With Mbeumo playing for Cameroon and Amad playing for the Ivory Coast, Man United will not have them in the important period. Therefore, Amorim must find an alternative to the busy schedule.
Joshua Zirkzee has barely played this season, while Benjamin Sesko is still adapting to the Premier League. This makes Man United's attack problem urgent, unless they add to the squad in the January transfer window.
"Throughout the match, I felt that the three points were in our hands. If we had a little more courage, we would have finished this match.
We are in the early stages of becoming a very strong team. Today, should have been the day Man United won this match" - Amorim shared.
