Paul Merson says: Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou not below stress however Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is

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…

‘Enormous recreation in top-four mini league’

Manchester United vs Tottenham is a big recreation.

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

Then you definitely go into the following league and for me, you are 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 have a look at the underside and there is about 5 groups on the backside who’re in bother, 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 aspect is successful the league, for my part. However the aim is to qualify for the Champions League, and with that in thoughts this can be a actually essential soccer match.

‘Either side will need factors on the board quick’

It’s a large recreation. There will likely 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 group. Each time he gained the league at Chelsea, he acquired off to a flyer. He simply blows everyone away early doorways after which that is it, there is not any probability for another aspect to recuperate.

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 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 large hole, particularly to Metropolis, at any stage of the season.

Nonetheless, 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 huge soccer matches and if you happen to do not go into it with that angle, you will not get the place you must get. It is also the way you win league championships. That is the way you win Premier League. Each recreation counts.

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

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

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

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

Then again, Manchester United are one of many largest golf equipment on this planet.

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

That’s the reason the stress is all the time seemingly on Erik ten Hag. He has to get within the prime 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 house to Tottenham and that stress will begin to crank up once more.

‘United want to search out consistency’

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

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

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

If that they had have snuck a win, you begin to suppose they could get on some type of a roll. However that by no means appears to occur for this United group and Ten Hag. They are going to by no means go and win 5, six, seven video games on the trot.

They all the time appear to be up in opposition to it.

‘Man Utd largest membership in world however not largest group in world’

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

Being one of many largest golf equipment on this planet is completely different from being one in all largest groups on this planet. We in all probability 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 group.

It does make you concentrate on the place it has all gone unsuitable 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 unsuitable on the membership? It is powerful to reply.

It does not actually matter if Ten Hag has the assist of the followers. It does not actually matter if he has the assist 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 probability of succeeding. The gamers are an important factor.

‘Not a lot unsuitable at Spurs’

If you happen to take away the Arsenal recreation, Spurs ought to have gained 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 turn into a rout.

They then go and slaughter Everton earlier than getting beat by Newcastle. I have no idea how they acquired 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 will not be the worst on this planet.

Brentford then get swept away comfortably. What I am getting at is there is not rather a lot unsuitable at Tottenham.

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

The issue at Spurs is they’re all the time 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 exhausting to swallow for United.

All I would 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 stated 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 acquired Europe to look again on.

That actually struck me. West Ham had some actually nice instances below David Moyes however they acquired rid. Simply watch out.

With Tottenham, i discover folks have quick reminiscences too.

It actually wasn’t good for a number of years at Tottenham. However now, I like watching Tottenham. I believe they are a good group.

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

‘United a superb match-up for Spurs’

Towards United, I believe it’s a good match-up for Spurs.

I see there being loads of targets with Tottenham inflicting United numerous main issues. Spurs will press and constructing from the again will not be one in all United’s robust factors.

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

It does not matter if they’re enjoying a lower-league aspect within the cup or one of many prime sides within the Premier League, they’ll 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 below stress.

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