14 January 2024 , 06:00
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Manchester United host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday - a little over three years since Jose Mourinho apologised to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Spurs’ ruthless 6-1 win at Old Trafford.
Mourinho, who spent two-and-half years in the dugout at United, went back to his former employers and gave the Red Devils a harsh lesson in October 2020. United took the lead in the second minute through Bruno Fernandes' penalty, before Spurs ran riot to record their biggest-ever victory at the Theatre of Dreams.
Son Heung-min and Harry Kane both scored a brace, while Tanguy Ndombele and Serge Aurier also found the net for Mourinho’s clinical Tottenham. After the match, Mourinho showed a touch of class to his successor, Solskjaer, who was understandably disappointed and frustrated with the result and his side’s display.
Speaking ahead of the return fixture in April 2021, Solskjaer said: “Jose Mourinho was very dignified after the game, from what I remember. He was almost apologetic because he knew how hard it was for me to take.
“I have the utmost respect for Jose. You shouldn’t always believe all that is said and written about him. There were plenty of positives from his time here and he has been a manager who I look up to.
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“To be honest I don’t really remember what I did personally after that game. It was an international break so I had a long time to think about it. It wasn’t the best international break I've ever had. But we had some words in the dressing room - and I think the results afterwards have been there to see.”
Tottenham ran riot to beat Manchester United 6-1 in October 2020 (Getty Images)Fast forward three years and both teams have different managers in the dugout. Erik ten Hag is now the man at the helm at United, while Spurs have Ange Postecoglou in charge and the duo went head-to-head in the second game of the season.
On that occasion, Spurs ran out 2-0 winners following an inspirational performance from James Maddison, who impressed on his home debut. Pape Matar Sarr’s opener and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal earned Tottenham the points back in August.
Tottenham now sit fifth, one point behind fourth-place Arsenal, while United are eight points worse off than Sunday’s opponents on 31 points. Ten Hag praised Postecoglou and Spurs in his pre-match press conference ahead of the fixture.
Ten Hag said: "Definitely different, so I think they complement they way they played, he changed the environment there, they're really proactive, very enjoyable to watch them with a lot of dynamics, very proactive.
"They combine it with good results but also when we played them over there and I think that's what we can take belief out of that. In the first 35 minutes we dominated them, we should have gone in the lead but we didn't so we have to make our own luck and take control of the game and finish the chances."