The last time Manchester United met Tottenham Hotspur, it was in the Premier League and Erik ten Hag was in charge. It turned out to be a day to forget for the Red Devils as they lost 0-3 at Old Trafford back in September.
It was a horrible start as the visitors took the lead within the opening three minutes with skipper Bruno Fernandes shown a straight red in the first half in what was yet another terrible call by the referee against United.
Diogo Dalot, who started as the left-back on that day, has promised that Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final encounter will be a different affair and for that to happen, the 20-time English league champions will have to start better.
“It’s going to be a good game, especially because of the feeling that we left the last game that we played against them at Old Trafford,” the defender told club media. “I think we didn’t play our best. So we want to give a different response in these type of games.
United want to exact revenge vs Spurs
“I think we started the game in the worst way possible. So I think we have to, from the start, show that we are going there to win the game. We want to go to Wembley again.
“So these are the best games to play against really good teams. They are a good team, so it’s a good challenge that we are looking forward to.”
United will be buoyant after Sunday’s Manchester derby triumph in which the Old Trafford side displayed a degree of control not seen in the recent past.
They went toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola’s side, something Dalot acknowledged. It was a sharp cry from what had transpired against Arsenal early in December.
Away at the Emirates, United were comfortable with the ball, but failed to make their possession count and looked like they lacked ideas up front.
“I had the opportunity to say it was probably the first time, since I arrived, for me personally when I played at the Etihad. It was probably the first time that we felt that we were in control. In control of the game but also emotionally controlled. We never lost our heads.
United progressing under Amorim
“I think it was the biggest difference from the Arsenal game. Although we had the control also, in my opinion, against Arsenal, it was just that lack of aggression in the final third. That lack of belief that we could score at any moment, even when we were 2-0 down, I think that it was the flipside of this for this game.
“We were completely the opposite. Even when we were losing 1-0 against City, we believed that we could score at any moment. And I think that’s the big thing, that was the biggest change. So you can see also progress from here.”
While progress has been seen ever since Amorim took charge, football is a results-oriented business and any team is as good as their next result. And United can send another powerful message to their rivals if they can make it to Wembley.
“But like I said, if you don’t do it in the next game, it doesn’t really feel the same way. So we have to keep this momentum and keep the same things for the upcoming games.”
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
