Spurs are slowly seeing the steep and uncomfortable mountain they need to climb to hope for a spot… Man United are still hopeful of a mountain!
Manchester United vs Tottenham | Saturday 12 March | Old Trafford | 19:30
These are the sorts of games which always raise an eyebrow of interest, no matter the backdrop of circumstance, it is a mammoth encounter. Notwithstanding the expectation of both sets of fans – this game is vital insofar as European matters are concerned.
To Win (90 mins)
Manchester United 1/1 | Draw 26/10 | Tottenham 5/2
Manchester United
Manchester United against Ralf Rangnick continues to divide opinion. Questions around the style of play and their approach toward games rages on and all the while their hopes of earning a Champions League qualification spot dwindles.
That first sort of 55 minutes at the Etihad, I thought United were in the game. They have the sort of players who can create something out of nothing, and the inclusion of Anthony Elanga injected enough pace to keep City’s backline honest.
All the success United has earned in the league has been because of individual brilliance and counter-attacking football. The press Rangnick has looked to introduce at Old Trafford has its benefits, and at times seems to be aggressive enough to put pressure on opposing sides.
And then at times it looks amateur and almost lazy when a handful of players are seemingly buying into the model whilst the others become passengers in their own team. The criticism levelled at United in this regard is completely sound. It is disgraceful to see a player who earns their livelihood through football, commits all their time and energy to playing the beautiful game and represents any club with all its fans and history just give up on the pitch. Not give 100% for the entire 90 minutes – it is truly repulsive!
The odds available on a United result are surely completely based on the personnel they can put out in this fixture – and yet for that reason you can’t count them out.
Tottenham
It is difficult to know and assume which Tottenham team will turn up here on Saturday evening. Antonio Conte picked a strong side to face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and then consolidated that selection against Everton on Monday night.
In the FA Cup they just never seemed to get going, and yet against Everton they got off to a flyer! Conte has been in charge for just under five months now, his impact is evident but I’m not entirely sure why they are so inconsistent.
When Spurs have a couple days between their games, they seem to perform much better. From their eight games under Antonio Conte, when they have a gap of at least five to six days – they have won seven times and drawn once!
I wonder whether this has anything to do with the preparation Conte puts into his sessions. The Italian manager has been quite public about his concern in quality at Spurs and that his side might need to be bolstered if they want to compete with Europe’s best…I would imagine his preparation before fixtures is therefore relatively specific to both the opposition and his starting eleven.
My only concern going into this game is that Spurs might opt to play on the counterattack at Old Trafford. Conte will know United have the players to hurt them from anywhere and playing on the road his side don’t have the onus of taking the game to their hosts.
This will put them into positions to hurt United but allowing Rangnick’s side so much of the ball might be inadvertently putting his own side under unforeseen pressure.
Prediction: Draw & BTTS @ 7/2
I think this game ends in a draw. United have shown they have the quality upfront to score goals and get into dangerous areas…but lack the confidence at the moment to kill games off and keep opposing players out of their box.
Spurs are a side comfortable to play on the break, they will get chances against this United defence – but conceding the ball to a team with the ability to hurt you is a little hit and miss game. It worked against City but has failed everywhere else.
