This week’s heavyweight Premier League clash sees Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
Both sides are looking to return to the Champions League this season, and both have had stumbling starts of their respective campaigns.
However, one football pundit believes the two sides are not necessarily in the same boat.
Erik ten Hag under more pressure than Ange Postecoglou, deems Paul Merson
In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson opined that Man United manager Erik ten Hag was under more pressure than his Tottenham counterpart, Ange Postecoglou.
“I don’t think Ange Postecoglou is under pressure. In my view, he’s doing okay at Spurs.”
“They aren’t top, I know, but no disrespect, they aren’t one of the biggest teams in the league.”
“People will say I’m saying that just because of my Arsenal connection but they aren’t the biggest club in the world.”
“On the other hand, Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
“They should be finishing in the top four at the very least with the heritage they have as a club.”
“That is why the pressure is always seemingly on Erik ten Hag. He has to get in the top four, minimum, and that is difficult with potentially only one place up for grabs with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.”
“That’s why this is such a big match. Lose at home to Tottenham and that pressure will start to crank up again.”
Merson on Ten Hag and Postecoglou.
The two lock horns in the Premier League on Sunday. The Red Devils also kicked off their Europa League campaign this week but drew at home against Dutch side Twente while Spurs won 3-0 against Qarabağ.
Their midweek result sees United having only two wins in their last five games; Spurs have three in that same period.
Not an unfair shout
Ten Hag may be under more pressure than Postecoglou, but that does not mean the latter is under no pressure at all.
Spurs fans have started worrying about the prospect of how far they can go with their manager’s ride-or-die footballing philosophy, which while being unquestionably exciting does have a ceiling. Even in their Europa League opener, had it not been for Qarabağ’s profligacy in the final third, we might be having a graver conversation about the Lilywhites.
United are in a transition year, which won’t be changed by at hat point Ten Hag is shown the exit door, but on the pitch Tottenham are supposed to be further along in their project under Postecoglou and have their own set of targets they need to reach.
