Michael Carrick is not underestimating Tottenham, even though Spurs sit bottom of the Premier League table.
Both clubs are in a mini-crisis after poor starts to the season, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side are still searching for their first win. A victory at Old Trafford would put Tottenham level on points with United, a ground where they have had some decent results in the past. Both managers badly need a result, and both are under heavy pressure just five games into the campaign.
In their last ten trips to Old Trafford, Spurs have won three, drawn one and lost six. Across all 34 league games there, United have won 25, Spurs five, and four have ended level.
Opta’s Supercomputer makes United strong favourites and gives Tottenham under a 25 per cent chance of winning. Even so, Carrick expects a tough game. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said Spurs have often played better than their points total suggests, that they are a good side with quality players, and that they have rebuilt their squad this summer. In his view, they haven’t got the results their performances deserved.
With both teams in the lower reaches of the table, there is less hype around the fixture than in previous years. De Zerbi insists it is still a huge game. Asked if it carries the same weight as before, he said it does, because Tottenham and United remain big Premier League clubs, and that he and his players have to earn their place at a club like Spurs by playing better and getting better results.
