Paul Merson says: Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou not underneath stress however Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is | Soccer Information

Paul Merson is again to preview the Tremendous Sunday conflict between Manchester United and Tottenham, stay on Sky Sports activities, and the Magic Man thinks defeat for United would crank the stress up on boss Erik ten Hag once more…

‘Large sport in top-four mini league’

Manchester United vs Tottenham is a big sport.

You have obtained your little leagues throughout the Premier League. One league is Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Liverpool. Mainly, who’s going to complete high of Premier League from these three sides.

You then go into the subsequent league and for me, you are taking a look at Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa. You’re looking at these 5 groups and considering who’s going to get fourth place and qualify for the Champions League.

After that, you take a look at the underside and there is about 5 groups on the backside who’re in hassle, and that is one other league.

United in opposition to Spurs is a top-of-the-table conflict within the league to succeed in the Champions League.

Neither facet is successful the league, in my view. However the objective is to qualify for the Champions League, and with that in thoughts this can be a actually necessary soccer match.

Sunday twenty ninth September 4:00pm


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‘Each side will need factors on the board quick’

It’s a enormous sport. There might be folks that say there’s 30-odd video games left however I do not agree. You want factors now.

In basketball, why do they play the primary three quarters? As a result of you have to get the factors to go to the fourth quarter and have an opportunity of successful the sport.

Prior to now in England, look again at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea crew. Each time he gained the league at Chelsea, he obtained off to a flyer. He simply blows all people away early doorways after which that is it, there is not any likelihood for every other facet to get better.

They by no means got here from behind to win their final 10 video games of the season. They simply went bang, crash and blew everybody away.

That is the place I believe some individuals miss a trick. Look again at Sunday and Manchester Metropolis vs Arsenal. That was one other huge sport. if Arsenal had misplaced the sport they’d have been 5 factors behind Manchester Metropolis. That may be a enormous hole, particularly to Metropolis, at any stage of the season.

Nevertheless, there would have been individuals flagging the quantity of video games left however to me it would not matter. You get the factors when you’ll be able to no matter time within the season. You want the factors. The margins are so high-quality up and down the league.

These are large soccer matches and in case you do not go into it with that angle, you will not get the place it’s good to get. It is also the way you win league championships. That is the way you win Premier League. Each sport counts.

‘Strain won’t ever be far-off for Ten Hag’

I do not suppose Ange Postecoglou is underneath stress. For my part, he is doing okay at Spurs.

They are not high, I do know, however no disrespect, they are not one of many greatest groups within the league.

Folks will say I am saying that simply due to my Arsenal connection however they are not the most important membership on this planet.

However, Manchester United are one of many greatest golf equipment on this planet.

They need to be ending within the high 4 on the very least with the heritage they’ve as a membership.

That’s the reason the stress is at all times seemingly on Erik ten Hag. He has to get within the high 4, minimal, and that’s troublesome with doubtlessly just one place up for grabs with Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Liverpool.

That is why that is such a giant match. Lose at house to Tottenham and that stress will begin to crank up once more.

‘United want to seek out consistency’

Final season, in case you undergo the Manchester United outcomes, they at all times had a pleasant sport on the proper time. They at all times appeared to have a sport at house the place you thought they’d get a consequence. They usually obtained these outcomes at simply the appropriate time. A consequence to paper over the cracks.

By some means, Manchester United want to seek out some consistency.

Final weekend, they may have crushed Crystal Palace. They’d good probabilities to win the sport, however to be honest so did Palace.

If they’d have snuck a win, you begin to suppose they may get on some form of a roll. However that by no means appears to occur for this United crew and Ten Hag. They’ll by no means go and win 5, six, seven video games on the trot.

They at all times appear to be up in opposition to it.

‘Man Utd greatest membership in world however not greatest crew in world’

Manchester United are the most important membership on this planet, however they are not one of many greatest groups on this planet. Removed from it. It isn’t even shut, and that is the place we overlook.

Being one of many greatest golf equipment on this planet is completely different from being certainly one of greatest groups on this planet. We in all probability must get used to that with Manchester United. I am nonetheless treating them like the good United groups of the previous. They had been a championship facet yr in, yr out. Not anymore. They’re fortunate if they’re a top-four crew.

It does make you concentrate on the place it has all gone incorrect at Previous Trafford.

It isn’t like they’ve constructed a brand new stadium like Arsenal and Tottenham. They’re nonetheless in the identical stadium and it nonetheless has holes within the roof. Why has it gone so horribly incorrect on the membership? It is powerful to reply.

It would not actually matter if Ten Hag has the help of the followers. It would not actually matter if he has the help of all of the individuals behind the scenes at Manchester United now.

The gamers on the membership have gotten to be behind the supervisor.

If they’re, Ten Hag has each likelihood of succeeding. The gamers are crucial factor.

‘Not a lot incorrect at Spurs’

When you take away the Arsenal sport, Spurs ought to have gained each sport.

They had been bang unfortunate at Leicester on the opening day. in the event that they rating a second objective it might have turn out to be a rout.

They then go and slaughter Everton earlier than getting beat by Newcastle. I have no idea how they obtained beat at Newcastle.

It wasn’t nice in opposition to Arsenal, I do know. However on the finish of the day they solely misplaced to a set-piece objective. Now we’re speaking about Arsenal as Manchester Metropolis’s nearest challenger so the defeat isn’t the worst on this planet.

Brentford then get swept away comfortably. What I am getting at is there is not so much incorrect at Tottenham.

‘Downside for Spurs is being judged in opposition to Arsenal’

The issue at Spurs is they’re at all times being judged up in opposition to Arsenal.

It’s kind of like Manchester United. if Manchester Metropolis weren’t the place they had been then it would not be so laborious to swallow for United.

All I might say about Spurs is watch out what you want for.

Have a look at West Ham. I used to be ready to practise my dance on Strictly final Saturday and one of many flooring managers got here as much as me and mentioned Chelsea had been 2-0 up. He was a West Ham fan. I requested him what was occurring and his reply was that they have not even obtained Europe to look again on.

That actually struck me. West Ham had some actually nice occasions underneath David Moyes however they obtained rid. Simply watch out.

With Tottenham, i discover individuals have brief recollections too.

It actually wasn’t good for a couple of years at Tottenham. However now, I like watching Tottenham. I believe they seem to be a good crew.

I do not see Ange being in any hassle. I actually like him.

‘United a very good match-up for Spurs’

In opposition to United, I believe it’s a good match-up for Spurs.

I see there being loads of targets with Tottenham inflicting United quite a lot of main issues. Spurs will press and constructing from the again isn’t certainly one of United’s sturdy factors.

Ange performs a technique. He goes out on the entrance foot and will get his facet taking part in to win soccer matches.

It would not matter if they’re taking part in a lower-league facet within the cup or one of many high sides within the Premier League, they may have a go.

That is what I like about him as nicely. He will not sit there and play 10 behind the ball. At Previous Trafford, he’ll exit and put Manchester United underneath stress.

Watch Man Utd vs Spurs on Sunday stay on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 4.30pm