After suffering an “unacceptable” 6-1 defeat to Newcastle last weekend, Tottenham’s fightback against Manchester United was driven by “anger”, according to forward Son Heung-min. Spurs trailed 2-0 at half-time before Pedro Porro’s goal gave them hope and Son completed the recovery with a 79th-minute equaliser. The draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was enough to lift Spurs above Liverpool and Aston Villa into fifth spot, six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with five games left.
Son said: “We wanted to give everything and that was the dressing room speech. We couldn’t let the game go. We were really angry about it, we didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half-time. The last week was unacceptable and we didn’t want to repeat that. We feel really, really sorry for the performance and result and today we wanted to bring a good energy. We really appreciated [the fans’] support and they were fighting with us.”
Interim manager Ryan Mason, who also took charge when Jose Mourinho was dismissed in April 2021, said it was important for Spurs to build on the result after a torrid run that has led to three different managers in a month. He added: “It has been difficult after Sunday as the manner of the defeat wasn’t nice. The most important thing now and until end of the season is to act as a team. Small details can change results. The most important thing to me will always be together. To see a team that was fighting for each other, it’s important in football and probably the most important thing.”
Manchester United had beaten Brighton on penalties in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, but manager Erik ten Hag said: “Some thought 90% is enough. But we lose focus. That’s why we give goals away. We did not do our jobs in positioning.” Ten Hag added that United players have to “give [everything] on every occasion” as they have a six point advantage and two games in hand on Spurs and sixth-placed Aston Villa, who they host on Sunday.