Instead, it is a weak and spineless imitation, one that is likely to get Erik ten Hag the sack, if results do not improve with immediate effect, with United now 12th in the table after three defeats from six.
Ten Hag will point to the straight red shown to skipper Bruno Fernandes, for a high tackle on James Madisson, as the moment this game ended as a contest, with United down to 10 men.
But the brutal reality is that Spurs were outplaying United well before the dismissal of Fernandes and should have been several goals ahead by the time he was dismissed just before half-time.
This was worse than United’s defeat at home, also 3-0, to arch rivals Liverpool four weeks ago. Had Spurs been more clinical in front of goal and Andre Onana not made several fine saves, it could easily have been 5-0 or 6-0, such was the dominance of Ange Postecoglou’s enterprising side.
The visitors went ahead in the third minute, Spurs defender Micky van de Ven picking up the ball inside his own half and surging forwards, unchallenged, before crossing for the unmarked Brennan Johnson to apply the simplest of finishes for his fourth goal in as many games.
Diogo Dalot was the major culprit, failing to track Johnson’s run, despite being within a few yards of him when Van de Ven picked up the ball. If not a carbon copy of FC Twente’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in midweek, it was worryingly similar, a player allowed to run unchallenged through the midfield, ultimately leading to a goal.
Ten Hag said United could not let that happen, yet four days later his side allowed the same scenario and outcome to unfold, having learned nothing.
Thereafter, the United goal led a charmed life, Onana saving well from Maddison, the post denying Johnson a second goal, while Noussair Mazraoui cleared the ball off the line, with Timo Werner waiting behind him.
Cristian Romero produced an acrobatic scissor kick which went just wide, while Werner should have made it 2-0 when through with only Onana to beat, but shot straight at him.
Ten Hag cut a broken figure on the touchline at the end, sodden from the Manchester rain, with his side – and potentially his hopes of keeping his job – washed up with this lamentable defeat.
The roof may be leaking at Old Trafford, but it is in danger of caving in on Ten Hag after this gutless display, the kind of which gets managers the sack.
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