With the referee's whistle, the match officially began!
After Tottenham kicked off, they didn't rush forward but instead passed the ball quickly in the midfield and defense.
The reason for this was that Manchester United didn't apply high pressing.
So Tottenham chose to control possession to gain an advantage and tire out the Manchester United players, setting the stage for their attacks.
In the 9th minute of the match, Tottenham's midfielders and forwards began relentless movement and coordination, with Vertonghen orchestrating the play from the back.
Perhaps due to his time at Ajax, this Belgian center-back possessed solid ball-carrying and passing abilities, making him a key component of Pochettino's attacking tactics.
With a precise diagonal long ball, he found Son Heung-min on the wing.
The latter deftly controlled the ball and surged forward, engaging in a speed duel with Ashley Young.
Seconds later, Son Heung-min, with a slight edge, led by half a body length and delivered a cross from near the byline.
The ball swerved toward the penalty spot.
Harry Kane, using his momentum, forcefully pushed past Smalling and headed toward goal.
De Gea, fully focused, reacted like lightning, tracking the ball's trajectory and punching it away with one fist.
The penalty area instantly descended into chaos.
Ultimately, Phil Jones cleared the ball with a powerful kick.
Manchester United fans in the stands broke into a cold sweat, while Tottenham fans erupted in loud cheers.
Among them, two groups of Asian fans stood out the most, as they were hurling insults at each other across the barriers.
The occasional mix of "Aish" and "CNM" in their English revealed they were Korean and Chinese international students, here at Old Trafford today to support their respective players.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, the match continued.
Tottenham gave Manchester United no time to catch their breath, launching relentless attacks from the flanks.
From a bird's eye view, it was clear that all of Tottenham's movements revolved around one central figure.
He was Harry Kane.
As a crucial component of Pochettino's tactical system, Harry Kane not only serves as a tactical center-forward utilizing his pivot effect, but also frequently drops back to participate in the team's build-up play, even acting as a finisher to deliver the final blow.
As Tottenham's overall formation advanced, Eriksen dropped deep to receive the ball, Son Heung-min made diagonal runs into the wide areas, and Alli drifted to Harry Kane's side.
The responsibility for progression fell to Dembele.
Facing pressing from several Manchester United players, he accurately found a passing lane and delivered the ball to Eriksen on the right flank.
Eriksen glanced up before receiving the ball and identified the positioning of his teammates on the far side's attacking stronghold.
With a precise cross, the ball swiftly descended toward the edge of the penalty area.
Harry Kane leaped high to flick the header, while Alli emerged like an assassin from the shadows, unleashing a powerful volley.
The hearts of Manchester United fans momentarily raced before settling again.
Because the shot missed the target entirely.
Within just a few minutes, Tottenham had created two scoring opportunities, causing Mourinho on the sidelines to furrow his brow slightly, though he remained largely unconcerned.
As long as they could stabilize the early rhythm and drag the match into a positional battle, Manchester United's compact defense would maximize its effectiveness.
And just as he anticipated, the game's dynamics gradually shifted.
With insufficient space available, Tottenham barely threatened Manchester United's goal for the remainder of the half.
The first half seemed to fly by, already reaching its midpoint.
During this period, Manchester United launched several rapid counterattacks, utilizing long passes from deep positions to target the channels between fullbacks and center-backs on both flanks.
Ling and Mata reduced their involvement in build-up play from midfield, focusing instead on penetrating and exhausting the opposition's defensive line, with minimal commitment to contesting second balls.
Under this tactical approach, Ling's adept dribbling skills and explosive acceleration were fully utilized.
The slightest mistake by Tottenham's fullbacks could easily lead to one-on-one opportunities.
Pochettino responded with quick adjustments, instructing midfielders to drop deeper to maintain defensive structure and prevent Manchester United from breaking through.
Simultaneously, they intensified pressing and interceptions to disrupt United's attrition tactics, striving to conserve players' energy.
The two managers engaged in a masterful display of tactical chess.
Amidst these rapid transitions between attack and defense, both teams' physical stamina dwindled noticeably, with breathing inevitably growing labored.
In the 27th minute.
Son Heung-min, facing Matic's aggressive press, deftly feinted outward to create space before immediately accelerating into a powerful surge.
It must be said that his current ability level is formidable—boasting excellent dribbling skills, remarkable running speed, and intelligent movement that creates attacking space for teammates.
This exemplifies high football IQ.
Son drove diagonally behind Matic, seeking combinations with teammates or shooting opportunities.
Spotting this, Herrera signaled to his teammates and decisively stepped up to confront him.
Originally an out-and-out attacking midfielder, Herrera had been relegated to the bench following Mkhitaryan's arrival.
But Pogba's injury proved to be a turning point.
Mourinho repositioned him as a defensive midfielder, unexpectedly triggering the most pivotal transformation of Herrera's career.
Not only did he inject energy into Manchester United's midfield through his exceptional running and ability to connect both defense and attack, but he also demonstrated his tenacity in central midfield battles.
In fact, he had shown similar performances last season, holding his own against David Silva during the Manchester derby.
Herrera tightly marked Son Heung-min, simultaneously cutting off the passing lane behind him, constantly forcing the opponent toward the outside.
Seizing the moment, he executed a sliding tackle, sending both players tumbling to the ground while the ball rolled forward to the side.
"Mata!"
"Manchester United's counterattack!"
The Manchester United forwards quickly turned and charged forward.
The overwhelming momentum was awe-inspiring.
Yet the Tottenham players showed no panic.
The forwards dropped back while the midfielders pushed forward, swiftly forming a pincer movement.
But Pochettino soon noticed something amiss.
The positioning of Manchester United's forwards had shifted—Lukaku and Ibrahimović had swapped positions.
What were they planning?
Mata directly passed the ball toward the center circle.
As Dier and Vertonghen faced the two towering strikers, they closed in to prevent them from winning the first touch.
They failed to notice their own positions overlapping, leaving a gap in their defensive line.
And in that very instant!
Ling summoned every ounce of his strength, cutting diagonally from the wing into the half-space at full speed.
Trippier's technical style resembled that of his idol Beckham—excelling in passing and assists but with a clear weakness: average defensive ability.
If not for Kyle Walker's move to Manchester City, he would likely still be warming the bench.
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