Tottenham vs. Manchester United: Instant reactions

Read our instant reactions to Tottenham’s 3-0 triumph over Manchester United

1. Manchester United is no longer United

The special aura of the Red Devils has officially disappeared. They don’t have the talent or the swagger of United teams of the past. Tottenham’s three goal victory simply confirmed the death of the United aura.

2. Tottenham are still in the title race

Before the match it was easy to think Spurs were out of it given the 10 point gap with Leicester City. Dropping any points would have signified the end of Tottenham’s title run, but a brilliant second half effort kept Spurs squarely in the title hunt.

3. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a terrific talent

It’s not a coincidence that Tottenham managed to score all three goals once the Dutch fullback went off the pitch. He was terrific before his injury and played like a veteran in a very tough environment. If his injury isn’t too serious, he’ll keep Matteo Darmian glued to Louis van Gaal’s bench.

4. Louis van Gaal doesn’t completely trust Marcus Rashford

The young centre forward really struggled to impact the match during the first half and was promptly subbed off in favor of Ashley Young. That’s a clear indication that van Gaal isn’t totally sold that Rashford is the answer to his side’s striker issues.

5. Leicester City have qualified for the Champions League

Of course the Foxes still have bigger fish to fry, but Tottenham’s victory assured them of a spot in the top four. What an amazing accomplishment for the Premier League’s penultimate fairy tale squad.

6. Erik Lamela isn’t perfect, but he’s really good

The Argentine attacker is still doubted by a shocking number of Tottenham fans, but his performance over United should silence even the most skeptical of Spurs fans. He responded to a horrible first half miss to ignite the Tottenham attack in the second 45 minutes. He won the ball for the first goal, sent in the set piece that assisted the second goal, and scored the final tally for Spurs. He was the Man of the Match and deserves the full support of the Tottenham fan base.

7. Spurs dodged a managerial bullet

It’s widely accepted that Tottenham were chasing Louis van Gaal before he opted to take the managerial role at Old Trafford. Spurs were forced to “settle” on Mauricio Pochettino and the results have been fabulous at White Hart Lane.

8. Dele Alli is a true danger man

Tomorrow’s birthday boy didn’t do much for his side in the first 45 minutes, but he scored the goal that broke open the match in the second half. He’s the type of player that you simply have to stick with through his tough periods because he has that special “it” factor that allows him to pop up in big moments. He’s a threat to score even when he isn’t playing that well.

9. West Ham have a real shot at Champions League football

That sentence may seem a little odd when you read it out loud, but Slaven Bilic’s club deserves to finish in the top four. The loss by Manchester United today gives them a huge boost in their race for a top four finish.

10. Spurs are no longer “Spursy”

Mauricio Pochettino properly killed off that term weeks ago, but today’s result serves as a solid reminder that this isn’t your father’s Tottenham squad. These Spurs have a steely resolve that reflects their manager’s tenacious, confident approach to football.

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Tottenham-3, Manchester United-0: Instant reactions

By Rucker Haringey | Apr 10, 2016