Tottenham Hotspur lock horns with Manchester United on Sunday, hoping to bounce back to winning ways following a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United. The Lilywhites are in desperate need of a win as they hope to continue their challenge for the top six spots. Still, things could be challenging against a United side that are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League matches. Here, at the 4th Official, we will look at what Mourinho can do to ensure a victory over Man United for his Spurs team this weekend.
Retain A Nice Balance Out Wide
Mourinho is set to face a dilemma in terms of squad selection in this game, especially in the fullback department where he has to choose between Serge Aurier and Japhet Tanganga at right-back. On the other hand, Sergio Reguilon remains a guaranteed starter on the opposite flank in Ben Davies’ absence.
Aurier is the most attack-oriented fullback who can offer that support going forward. Mourinho, however, should persist with Tanganga at right-back. The young defender offers more solidity that could be useful in helping Spurs retain a certain balance, especially with Reguilon likely to be employed in a more attacking role with his marauding runs forward.
It could add more stability to the Spurs backline, offering them the support of an additional defender during any counter-attacking situations.
A Midfield Masterclass
Tottenham and Manchester United’s reverse fixture saw Mourinho’s men expertly getting the better of their opponents, largely thanks to a masterclass from the new signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Dane’s performance could be crucial once again if Spurs are to have any hopes of salvaging anything from this game. The midfielder’s aggression, work-ethic as well as the ability to offer those crucial passes forward does indeed make him a vital cog in Tottenham’s second line of press, and his contributions could go a long way in shaping the fate of his team this weekend.
Unleash The Wingers As Runners
Tottenham Hotspur are set to be boosted by Son Heung-Min’s return this weekend, while Gareth Bale is also likely to return in the attacking unit. It gives Harry Kane some much-needed support in the final third, meaning the Englishman can now become more expressive in his game.
This serves as an ideal opportunity for Mourinho to utilise both Bale and Son as runners, with Kane acting as an auxiliary number ten. He has already shown that he has the quality to find those cross-field passes that could certainly catch the Man United defence.
