Premier League talking points: Kevin De Bruyne back at Man City, Mauricio Pochettino under pressure, Sir Jim Ratcliffe to make first appearance
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Friday 12 January 2024 14:48, UK
Man Utd vs Tottenham — Sunday, 4.30pm
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is due to be in attendance for the very first time as Manchester United kickstart a new calendar year by entertaining Tottenham on Sunday. An enterprising first fixture.
Ratcliffe, who completed his 25 per cent share takeover on Christmas Eve, has visited Carrington for initial introductions but is yet to see Erik ten Hag's side kick a competitive ball first hand.
What is he likely to observe when Man Utd — eighth in the league — take on Spurs, live on Sky Sports Premier League, at Old Trafford? Well, Ratcliffe's presence has the potential to create calm and chaos simultaneously.
Ten Hag has projected a mood of hope of optimism since Ratcliffe's takeover was announced. A clean slate. A fresh start. But the swell of pressure as a result of poor performance remains the undertone.
Man United have lost nine of their 20 league games this season, as many defeats as they suffered the whole of last term. They finished 2023 with limp defeat to Nottingham Forest. Ratcliffe cannot remedy that.
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«Many hours we sit together, many issues we were on the same page,» Ten Hag said of his early meetings with the INEOS business owner. How long is that accord and harmony likely to last if results don't swiftly improve, though?
Perhaps a meeting with Spurs, a team Man United have beaten more times (24)
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