Manchester United faced a disappointing 3-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday, further complicating their troubled start to the season.
The defeat marked United’s third loss in the league, leaving them in 12th place in the standings.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off after a reckless challenge, adding to the team’s woes.
Tottenham’s goals came from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke, pushing Spurs up to eighth place and marking their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions.
In stark contrast, United has struggled, failing to secure a win in their last three matches and managing just one win in their last five league outings.
Manager Eric ten Hag acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “First we have to deal with this and show resilience.
This is not good enough.
We have to accept this defeat and get better.” The frustration of United fans was palpable, with boos echoing through Old Trafford as many left the stadium early, especially after Solanke’s late goal.
The match began poorly for United, conceding in the third minute when Johnson scored from close range after a poor defensive lapse.
They were fortunate not to fall further behind, with goalkeeper Andre Onana making critical saves, including denying Timo Werner on two occasions.
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Before halftime, Fernandes received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on James Maddison, significantly hindering United’s chances of a comeback.
Tottenham capitalized quickly after the break, with Kulusevski scoring just two minutes into the second half.
Solanke sealed the victory with a third goal in the 77th minute.
In a notable absence, Spurs’ star player Son Heung-min was not available for the match, with manager Ange Postecoglou citing a short recovery time after Thursday’s Europa League game.
Postecoglou expressed satisfaction with the performance, stating, “We were real good. Obviously, it is a great victory.”
The match highlighted growing concerns in football regarding player workload, as both Son and Manchester City’s Rodri, who recently suffered a serious injury, have voiced their worries about the increasing demands on athletes.
