Football Features

    “He is a GROWN. MAN.” – Full player ratings as Edinson Cavani leads another epic Man Utd comeback against Spurs

    By Muhammad Butt

    Published: 19:00, 11 April 2021 | Updated: 19:26, 10 September 2021

    In a game of two-halves, Manchester United came from behind to beat Spurs 1-3 at the Tottenham Stadium.

    The Red Devils have now won 28 points from losing positions, and following Leicester’s loss earlier in the day have moved nine points ahead of the Foxes in second place and look sure to finish the season in the top four now.

    Here’s how the players rated at Tottenham Stadium:

    Spurs

    Hugo Lloris – 6 – Was in impressive form, making multiple saves including one stunner to stop Bruno Fernandes from arrowing a shot into the far corner of the net. Could do nothing about either of the first two goals he conceded and although he was beaten at his near-post on the third goal by that time he had done so much to keep Spurs in it you couldn’t be mad at him.

    Serge Aurier – 4 – United repeatedly got in behind him (including for Cavani’s goal) and he wasn’t much of an attacking outlet either. At one point in the second-half Pogba ran him around in a circle twice in 10 seconds without the defender ever getting near the ball. Embarrassing.

    Eric Dier – 5 – Played well in general, but had no idea where Cavani was on United’s go-ahead goal.

    Joe Rodon – 6 – Solid, but not brilliant.

    Sergio Reguilon – 5 – Not as impactful as he would have liked and got twisted in half by Mason Greenwood for the third goal.

    Pierre Emile Hojbjerg – 7 – Played well at the base of midfield. Won a team-high 5 tackles as he combated the United threa consistently fed the ball forward to Spurs’ danger men.

    Tanguy Ndombele – 5 – Couldn’t really get into the game due to Spurs’ gameplan.

    Giovani Lo Celso – 6 – Defended really well for his team, tracking back to cut out United passes.

    Lucas Moura – 7 – A buzzsaw of movement both defensively and offensively. Got the assist for Spurs’ opener with a lovely run and cross but was a thorn in the side of United. Was bizarre to see him go off and Spurs got worse after he did.

    Son Heung-min – 7 – Was at the heart of all the action. Lots of tracking back, two outstanding dives to kill United attacks dead (one saw their opening goal ruled out by VAR) and then opened the scoring with an impressive finish to cap a lovely Spurs move. Looked dangerous on a few other occasions when Spurs could actually be bothered to try and attack.

    Harry Kane – 6 – A delicious flicked pass in the build-up to Spurs’ opening goal, a couple of lovely touches and runs where he made Harry Maguire look very foolish and a snapshot that pulled a great save from Dean Henderson were the highlights of a relatively quiet afternoon of work for the England captain. Was mostly isolated by Spurs’ gameplan.

    Substitutes:

    Moussa Sissoko (for Lo Celso 61′) – 6 – Was inches away from heading Spurs level late on but for Edinson Cavani’s timely intervention.

    Erik Lamela (for Ndombele 78′) – 5 – Didn’t quite add the snap you’d expect.

    Gareth Bale (for Lucas 82′) – n/a – Came on late.

    Manchester United

    Dean Henderson – 8 – An imperious performance from a player who is surely now the no. 1 at the club? Henderson wasn’t called on often but such is the quality of Spurs’ forwards that he had to be on top form when he was called on. His near-post stop from Kane was particularly special.

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8 – Went walkabout for Spurs’ opener but more than made up for it by locking down his flank for the rest of the match. 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 block and a game-high 5 interceptions as Spider-Wan was webbing them up yet again!

    Victor Lindelof – 6 – Comedically exposed on Spurs’ goal as he flailed around trying to stop Kane#s pass (which he could have stopped as source if he hadn’t gone wandering). Was otherwise alright./

    Harry Maguire – 7 – Had a few ropey moments against the intelligence and movement of Kane & Son, but was mostly solid, especially in the air where he dominated with a flawless 4/4 aerial duels contested.

    Luke Shaw – 7 – Not as great as he has been lately but still very impressive for United especially as an attacking outlet. One terrific trivela cross in particular should have led to a goal.

    Scott McTominay – 7 – Slow in possession but a rampaging force of nature out of it. A team-high 5 tackles completed.

    Fred – 7 – Was his usual relentless self (winning possession a game-high 11 times) but looked too slow with the ball. That is until just short of the hour mark when he exchanged passes with Fernandes and Rashford, driving through the Spurs defence like Leo Messi before releasing Cavani and pouncing to slam home the shot he missed, drawing United level. An incredible goal!

    Paul Pogba – 9 – Struggled to impose himself first-half, albeit he did conjure one incredible pass through to Cavani for the disallowed goal. However in the second half Pogba took off and was just an imperious force that no one could get near. He completed a team-high 4 clearances as he helped defending set-pieces.

    Then Pogba was crucial to United’s ball retention efforts after taking the lead (he completed 6 of 8 take-ons, by far a game-high), and the way he tortured Serge Aurier in the second-half was capped only by his deliciously good assist for Mason Greenwood’s third goal. This was Prince Paul at his most precious. A true titan United will need to reach the next level, because he is already there.

    Bruno Fernandes – 7 – Not at his best but still a few crucial bits of play. Should have picked up an assist for Pogba and did bag a delightful pre-assist for Cavani’s go-ahead goal with a nifty nutmeg and pass. Also played a part in United’s first goal too.

    Marcus Rashford – 7 – Tried valiantly to get it going but was clearly not fully fit. Still played a key role in United’s equaliser.

    Edinson Cavani – 9 – The Uruguayan was an absolute colossus at Tottenham Stadium. He scored the opener only for it to be ruled out for spurious reasons. His movement was sublime at always, his shot forced the equaliser, and he put United into the lead with a gigantic diving header. The timing of his run was matched by the ruggedness of his finish. He even found time to make a huge defensive clearance, heading the ball onto the post to prevent Moussa Sissoko getting a tap-in. Edinson Cavani is a GROWN. MAN. You can see why United are desperate to keep him around; not only does he have the potential for world-class displays like this but he must be imparting so much knowledge to the likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford in training.

    Substitutes:

    Mason Greenwood (for Rashford 72′) – 8 – Came on for Rashford and added more cutting edge. His assist for Cavani’s go-ahead goal was absolute liquid as he struck the cross first-time, and he scored a third at the end with a lethal near-post finish.

    Nemanja Matic (for Fernandes 90′) – n/a – Came on late.

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