Manchester United had no reasons to rue last year’s decision not to pursue Antonio Conte. On a night when the Italian’s Tottenham team could have gone second, they were instead second best. Erik ten Hag, the manager United eventually did appoint instead, constructed a performance with the adventurousness and attacking intent to fit the club’s traditions. Conte has rarely been as bold and his Tottenham could depart Old Trafford thanking the brilliant Hugo Lloris for the fact they only conceded twice.
Old Trafford rocked to the kind of football they have seen too rarely since the watching Sir Alex Ferguson retired. It echoed to the sound of an old tune with new lyrics. “Fred will tear you apart again,” came the chorus from the Stretford End, repurposing a song long used to pay tribute to Ryan Giggs, and the much-maligned midfielder was magnificent. Ten Hag’s time with his midfielders has been a case of trial and error – using Christian Eriksen as a false nine against Brighton and benching Casemiro in a Manchester derby did not work – but he was thoroughly vindicated for choosing Fred instead of a fit-again Eriksen and an available-again Scott McTominay. He was talismanic and terrific.
