An underperforming squad, a manager under pressure and fan discontent. Manchester United would be forgiven for thinking they are playing a mirror image of themselves when they face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.. And yet this weekend’s opposition should be the perfect tonic for Ruben Amorim’s ponderous team. At least United have won six of their last eight fixtures in all competitions.. The same cannot be said for Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side. An injury crisis has not helped their growing problems, as Postecoglou has pointed out at every opportunity, but make no mistake that the Australian is under pressure.. Sitting 14th in the Premier League table, out of both domestic cups, after a pitiful surrender to Liverpool and a poor performance at Aston Villa. Spurs’ season appears to be heading nowhere.. There may now be growing fears that Tottenham could do the worst thing possible to United. Sack Postecoglou and enjoy a new manager bounce for Sunday’s game against the Reds.. It wasn’t long ago that Aston Villa did the same to United when the Reds were under Erik ten Hag in 2022. The Villans were struggling badly under Steven Gerrard before sacking the former Liverpool captain and replacing him with Unai Emery.. Villa beat United 3-1 that November day in their first league victory at home against the Reds since 1995. Coincidently, that match turned out to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final game for the club before he left several weeks later.. Jacob Ramsey scores for Aston Villa against Manchester United (Image: Getty Images). United will not be familiar with getting a new manager bounce in recent times. Many would argue that the Reds haven’t had one since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival as interim boss in late 2018, with the players freed from the shackles of Jose Mourinho’s third-season destruction.. Ruben Amorim will be well aware that his impact at Old Trafford has not had anywhere near the desired effect as of yet. It was always going to take time with the former Sporting boss needing at least a summer transfer window before being truly judged.. However, any concerns over United’s direction under the Portuguese will only grow if they slip up in North London this weekend. There would be very little surprise if Amorim’s worst fears are realised on Sunday.
