Tottenham provide Solskjaer with toughest test to date.

Tottenham take on Manchester United at Wembley in Sunday’s late afternoon kick off. It’s an exciting prospect with both sides in good form. Spurs have been scoring for fun recently, bagging an impressive 23 goals in their last six games in all competitions. United have also been impressive under caretaker manager Ole Gunna Solskjaer, the Norwegian has hit the ground running and United have won all five games under his management.

Solskjaer will have circled this fixture in his diary, as like most of the football world, he’ll have known this was going to be his biggest test early in his role. 

That’s not to say Solskjaer will have predicted an easy ride in his first four Premier League games. The former Cardiff City boss took over a United team extremely low on confidence, with players looking like automated, robotic versions of themselves, shuffling their way through matches. It was clear that if Solskjaer could restore the self esteem to United’s stars, then the team would start to get the desired results. So far so good.

Solskjaer is fired up for the challenge of Spurs as he spoke about after last Weekend’s FA Cup win against Reading.

He will also be acutely aware that a win for United would take them level on points with sixth place Arsenal and boost their top four hopes.

United’s caretaker manager has brought back an attacking style of play and they’ve been exciting to watch in their last five games. They look set to continue to attack teams, which is clearly their biggest strength.

“ You always adapt to any opponent, we play one of the best teams in the league, have to be aware of their strengths but we need to attack teams, that’s our strength as well. Going forward, attacking both as a team and the way we played, we won’t get as many chances to attack against these as we’ve had before so we’ve got to be ready for when we got hold of the ball and play well with it because Wembley is a decent sized pitch.”

Spurs will be looking to pick up all three points in order to remain in touching distance of Liverpool in the title race. A win today would leave them six points behind the league leaders. 

Pochettino is looking forward to to the match and will hope to put an end to United’s winning run. 

“It’s going to be a very nice game. Always Tottenham vs Manchester, Manchester vs Tottenham, every time that we play are always exciting, very competitive games. Of course this Sunday it will be a very nice game to watch. It will be tough, I think Manchester United arrive in a very good level, with very good momentum.”

The two managers 

The pair have faced each other just once in the Premier League. In 2014 Solskjaer’s Cardiff City took all three points from Pochettino’s Southampton.

There is also an interesting story  involving the two managers that Pochettino spoke about in his press conference earlier this week. On the 26th May 1999 Manchester United beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final with a goal from the ‘baby faced assassin’ in the 92nd minute to win the trophy for Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad. In the stands at the Nou Camp that night sat Espanyol defender Pochettino. 

“I have good memories because also I remember when he scored after 90 minutes at the Camp Nou, I was with Tony Jimenez, my goalkeeping coach we were then at the Nou Camp in 1999, I remember him when he scored the second goal in the injury time and how I shouted the goal of Manchester United, that was unbelievable. We were neutral people watching a fantastic game. I have good memories of him.”

Both managers now seem to be included in the list of favourites to take the permanent job as Manchester United manager in the summer. Pochettino has remained professional throughout and once again reiterated that he only focused on winning today’s game. 

“Of course for me only I am focused on trying to win the game on Sunday. Because we know that we need the three points to be in that race for the Premier League, to be in the top four, for the end of the season to be there. All that happens around, all the rumours, is going to happen because that is football. You are going to do your job, I need to do my job, you accept that’s how it is, to try to find the way to win the game, and after to trust in the players.”

Team News 

Spurs:

Spurs are slowly reducing the number of players sidelined due to injury. Lucas Moura missed the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea with a knee injury, and if he is involved today it will likely be from off the substitute bench. Eric Dier has returned to training but will miss out on today’s game, along with Victor Wanyama. Jan Vertonghen looks set to return to the squad but with Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth all fit it’s likely that the Belgian won’t be thrown straight back into the starting XI. 

Pochettino has stated that midfielder Mousa Dembele is still not match fit and it looks increasingly certain that the Belgian  is set for a move to China. 

Manchester United:

United’s central defenders may pick themselves today.  Eric Bailly is suspended, Marcus Rojo is out injured and Chris Smalling is doubtful, which leaves them with Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof in the heart of the defence. 

World Cup winner Paul Pogba joined United’s training camp in Dubai late due to an injury but looks set to start at Wembley and will be key to United’s plans. The Frenchman’s form has been sensational under his new manager. Alexis Sanchez may face a late fitness test but is unlikely to feature in today’s game.