Jamie Carragher has stated how he can see a style of play and way of thinking from Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, but not from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Those at Old Trafford watched their side produce a drab performance as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City recorded a 3-0 win on Sunday at Old Trafford.
After the game, Jamie Carragher stated that ‘none of us here can explain’ what Manchester United are trying to do under Erik ten Hag.
In comparison, the Liverpool legend feels the likes of Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham have an identity, as he told Sky Sports (29/10/23 at 7:20 pm).
After ten Premier League games, Spurs are sitting top of the table with 26 points – that’s the most tally of points a manager has ever picked up after ten games in Premier League history (ESPN).
That is pretty incredible for a team now playing on the front foot, with high intensity and aggression because it wasn’t so long ago that they were playing five at the back under Antonio Conte.
Manchester United beaten by Manchester City
“I get what you (Gary Neville) are saying rinse and repeat, different managers and stuff like that,” said Carragher.
“But we are now into his (ten Hag’s) second season. We will all say that it went well for Manchester United last season for where they were. But none of us here can explain what Manchester United try to do, in terms of how they play. He has been here now, what? Nearly 18 months.
“We have seen Unai Emery coming in at Aston Villa. We have seen Postecoglou come in now during a very short space of time. That doesn’t mean you win every week. But when you go to the games, you know what you are going to see.
“We still don’t know what you are going to see with Manchester United. You tell me how they play with the ball?”
Manchester United and Tottenham points gap
At the start of the season, many would have backed Manchester United to be the ones to mount a title challenge, not Spurs.
Yet, fast forward to the present and Spurs are an incredible 11 points clear of ten Hag’s side, who are in for a struggle just to finish in the top four now.
Liverpool currently occupy that final spot, with Jurgen Klopp’s side eight points clear after beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Sunday.
Yes, it’s still early days, but once again, Manchester United seem to be going backwards after taking a step forward under a new manager – Gary Neville spoke about Liverpool and Arsenal being ‘well-run’ clubs in comparison to Manchester United.
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