It’s the clip that everyone is talking about on social media. By Monday morning, there had been three million views of a video showing Spurs passing through the Man Utd press and breaking up the pitch with ease.
The 10-second clip has become a lightning rod for fan frustrations.
United’s return of six points from six Premier League games is the fewest they’ve gained at this stage of a season in 40 years – and right now, every shortcoming is being heavily scrutinised.
But what does the clip, and other similiar instances in the game, reveal about Manchester United?
Breaking down the viral clip
The clip occurs in the 57th minute. The score is 0-0. Jan Paul van Hecke has the ball in the Spurs penalty area after receiving a short goal-kick from centre-back partner Marco Senesi.
Six United players have stepped up and gone man-to-man to deploy a high press. But their four defenders are back on the halfway line, leaving a big gap between the United defence and midfield.
Crucially, United’s left winger, Matheus Cunha, is stood too far away from Spurs right-back Archie Gray. Van Hecke is closed down but is able to make a straightforward pass into Gray’s path. Gray is already on the charge into the space in front of United’s defence.
With one pass out of their own penalty area, Spurs have left six United players trailing behind the ball. Carrick can be seen gesturing to Cunha to chase back – but Gray is away.
Gray is able to carry the ball all the way to United’s defensive third where he plays a square pass to the unmarked Conor Gallagher. United’s central midfielders, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, are running back but can’t make up the ground in time.
“If you look at Tielemans and Mainoo getting back here, the two in midfield chasing back, it’s a real struggle for them,” says Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on co-commentary.
Gallagher shuttles the ball onto Spurs left winger Savio, who takes a touch and then sees his shot blocked out for a corner by Leny Yoro.
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The wider problems it reflects
The clip comes in the context of United already suffering criticism this season for their fitness, intensity out of possession and compactness.
“When you come back from the World Cup, you don’t do lots of running. Just chill.” That was the quote from Tielemans to Rio Ferdinand in pre-season when he was asked about training under Carrick in preparation for the upcoming campaign.
It has been repeatedly referenced in these opening weeks given United have been out-run in every Premier League fixture so far, aside from the Manchester derby, when Man City had Phil Foden sent off in the first half.
Cunha himself said after the draw at Fulham before the international break: “They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this.”
Neville was scathing of that showing from United and on Saturday he was critical of the Tielemans-Mainoo partnership being energetic enough for the Premier League.
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Summer signing Carlos Baleba, who has seen his start at the club disrupted by injury, came on as a substitute for Tielemans after United defended two Spurs corners which followed the viral clip. Could he provide the solution now he is returning to fitness?
Perhaps – but the answer surely also requires a more joined-up approach from United’s players out of possession which doesn’t require a player to cover huge areas of grass on their own to prevent teams gaining huge territory as quickly and easily as Spurs did on Saturday.
Udogie spots space early on
While one clip went viral, there are other examples of United’s defensive set-up being stretched.
Just 12 minutes into the match, Spurs had their first goal-kick. Again they went short, with Senesi passing to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Left-back Destiny Udogie was quickly on the run, realising Amad Diallo had given him space and was looking the other way.
It was a near-identical situation to the Gray incident which would happen later in the match. But on this occasion, Senesi turns back and declines to make the pass out to Udogie, who had raced into space behind the United midfield.
United’s front six disconnect from the rest
The viral clip wasn’t the only occasion when United allowed a huge gap to open up between their defence and the rest of the team.
Seven minutes before Gray is released, Bruno Fernandes closes down Kinsky to prevent him from passing to Van Hecke. But the plan from Spurs is there and so is the opportunity provided by the big space behind Tielemans and Mainoo.
Cunha with his hands on his knees
United’s Cunha looks like he is blowing a minute before the viral incident, when Kinsky opts to go long.
Fatigue could be a factor in United being unable to effectively deploy their man-to-man high press – especially considering that Cunha gives Gray too much space soon after this screenshot, which allows Spurs to break up the pitch.
Baleba makes up the ground just in time
Into the 87th minute, and with United 1-0 up there is more caution in Cunha’s positioning. The Brazilian is deeper than in previous set-ups for Spurs goal-kicks and is able to deny Van Hecke the option of playing a similar pass for Gray as previously.
However, five other United players have pushed up on their opponents – leaving that space in behind them again. Remember, United have a one-goal lead against 10 men with less than four minutes of normal time remaining.
Fortunately, United have Baleba on the pitch, who has spotted the passing option for Van Hecke…
Baleba charges across the pitch to make the interception just in time.
United scrambled to survive on that occasion. But ultimately they did concede an injury-time equaliser – fuelling more scrutiny of United’s approach and performances this season.
