Manchester United defeated Tottenham 2-0 early Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford in a match of the 25th round of the Premier League. It was the fourth consecutive victory for interim manager Michael Carrick, who took over after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. In a rematch of last season's Europa League final, but with different coaches, the home team quickly showed that their good feelings are not just a product of a typical shake-up, but something more solid and thought-out, leading to the belief that Michael Carrick's work, still in the interim role, is much more than a coach looking to patch things up. The Red Devils were always very compact, aggressive in losing the ball, and in a game where the three midfielders circulated the ball among themselves with few touches and great precision, Bruno Fernandes stood out with his creative ability (another great game from the Portuguese), Casemiro's verticality (many dangerous incursions into the area), and the measured play of Kobie Mainoo, a player overlooked by Amorim but who has been taking on a leading role in ensuring fluidity in the game. The Spurs, affected by many injuries and under enormous pressure both inside and outside the club, never managed to construct a play with head, trunk, and limbs. This was due to a lack of a guiding thread, but fundamentally because of the great pressure exerted by the Red Devils. Things got worse after Romero's expulsion (the sixth for the club) following a tackle on Casemiro. By strategy, United sought to reach the Londoners' area through quick transitions and with few touches, a type of football in which these players seem to feel comfortable. Vicario delayed the 1-0 with great saves, but curiously the opening goal came from a set piece, by Mbeumo, after a well-studied corner, one of those plays that makes any technical team proud of their work. In the second half, with one more player on the field, Manchester United maintained the same control and despite only having a one-goal lead, they never lost their heads in search of the second, demonstrating a maturity that had been hidden for a long time under the reign of the former Sporting coach. Except for a misplaced pass from Luke Shaw that allowed Xavi Simmons a dangerous shot, the home team made almost no mistakes and waited for the right moment to confirm the victory, which came through Bruno Fernandes, finishing at the far post from a cross by Diogo Dalot, a full-back who returned to his roots and, solely in his corridor, made a positive difference once again. A deserved, indisputable victory that not only keeps United in the top four of the table but also highlights a clarity rarely seen until a month ago, leaving open the possibility that the transformation is not just circumstantial and has much to do with Carrick's influence. For now, this team plays and produces moments of spectacle. After all, it is always about the Theatre of Dreams.
Manchester United Tottenham remains central to this story.
Manchester United Tottenham remains central to this story.
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