Paul Merson says: Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou not underneath strain 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, dwell on Sky Sports activities, and the Magic Man thinks defeat for United would crank the strain up on boss Erik ten Hag once more…

‘Large recreation in top-four mini league’

Manchester United vs Tottenham is a big recreation.

You have obtained your little leagues throughout the Premier League. One league is Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Liverpool. Principally, 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 Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa. You’re looking at these 5 groups and pondering who’s going to get fourth place and qualify for the Champions League.

After that, you have 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 achieve the Champions League.

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

‘Each side will need factors on the board quick’

It’s a enormous recreation. There shall be those 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.

Previously in England, look again at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea crew. Each time he received the league at Chelsea, he obtained off to a flyer. He simply blows all people away early doorways after which that is it, there isn’t any likelihood for some other aspect to get well.

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 feel some folks miss a trick. Look again at Sunday and Manchester Metropolis vs Arsenal. That was one other huge recreation. if Arsenal had misplaced the sport they might 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 folks flagging the quantity of video games left however to me it does not matter. You get the factors when you may 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 if you happen to do not go into it with that angle, you will not get the place it’s essential to get. It is also the way you win league championships. That is the way you win Premier League. Each recreation counts.

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

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

They don’t seem to be high, I do know, however no disrespect, they don’t seem to be one of many largest groups within the league.

Individuals will say I am saying that simply due to my Arsenal connection however they don’t seem to be the most important membership on the planet.

Alternatively, Manchester United are one of many largest golf equipment on the 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 strain 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 an enormous match. Lose at dwelling to Tottenham and that strain will begin to crank up once more.

‘United want to seek out consistency’

Final season, if you happen to undergo the Manchester United outcomes, they at all times had a pleasant recreation on the proper time. They at all times appeared to have a recreation at dwelling the place you thought they might get a end result. They usually obtained these outcomes at simply the fitting time. A end result to paper over the cracks.

Someway, Manchester United want to seek out some consistency.

Final weekend, they might have crushed Crystal Palace. They’d good possibilities to win the sport, however to be truthful so did Palace.

If that they had have snuck a win, you begin to suppose they may get on some type 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 largest membership in world however not largest crew in world’

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

Being one of many largest golf equipment on the planet is completely different from being one in every of largest groups on the planet. We most likely must get used to that with Manchester United. I am nonetheless treating them like the nice United groups of the previous. They had been a championship aspect 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 unsuitable at Outdated 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 unsuitable on the membership? It is powerful to reply.

It does not actually matter if Ten Hag has the help of the followers. It does not actually matter if he has the help of all of the folks 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 an important factor.

‘Not a lot unsuitable at Spurs’

Should you take away the Arsenal recreation, Spurs ought to have received each recreation.

They had been bang unfortunate at Leicester on the opening day. in the event that they rating a second aim it will have change into 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 aim. Now we’re speaking about Arsenal as Manchester Metropolis’s nearest challenger so the defeat is just not the worst on the planet.

Brentford then get swept away comfortably. What I am getting at is there is not so much unsuitable 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 is a bit like Manchester United. if Manchester Metropolis weren’t the place they had been then it would not be so arduous to swallow for United.

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

Take 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 basically struck me. West Ham had some actually nice instances underneath David Moyes however they obtained rid. Simply watch out.

With Tottenham, i discover folks have quick recollections too.

It actually wasn’t good for a number of years at Tottenham. However now, I like watching Tottenham. I feel 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 feel it’s a good match-up for Spurs.

I see there being loads of objectives with Tottenham inflicting United loads of main issues. Spurs will press and constructing from the again is just not one in every of United’s sturdy factors.

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

It does not matter if they’re taking part in a lower-league aspect within the cup or one of many high sides within the Premier League, they are going to have a go.

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

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