BEN FOSTER has claimed Tottenham’s rapid rise under Ange Postecoglou is down to the players’ top-tier personalities.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper was full of praise for Postecoglou’s side ahead of their Monday night game against Chelsea.
In his first season in charge of Spurs, the Australian has led Tottenham to second after ten games.
By comparison, Erik ten Hag’s side have struggled to replicate anything resembling their improved form last year, in what is his second season at the helm in Old Trafford.
After eleven games, the Red Devils lie a lowly eighth in the Premier League.
If this wasn’t bad enough, they suffered brutal 3-0 losses to both Manchester City and Newcastle – the latter knocking them out of the Carabao Cup – in the space of four days prior to their narrow 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.
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Comparing the mixed fortunes of Postecoglou and Ten Hag, Foster noted one crucial disparity between the two teams.
He said on The United Stand: “It’s not a different level of player, it’s a different level of person.
“That’s the big difference in all of this and that’s the problem in all of this is Tottenham seem, to me, to have good quality people that want to work hard and want to dig in.
“And hard work will always overcome skill.”
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Foster later added: “Man United, they’ve got some talented players for sure, but if you’re not willing to put the work in alongside it, you’re gonna get beat, it’s as simple as that.”
Near enough all of United’s playing staff have come under heavy criticism of late, with Ten Hag having decided to hold one-to-one sessions with each of his players in an attempt to get the dressing room back on track.
Despite this, unfortunately for United fans, Foster doesn’t see an end to his former side’s poor run of form any time soon.
He admitted: “I think it’s gonna be a difficult season for everybody involved with Man United to be honest with you.
“I think there’s too much up in the air. Theres too much lingering, too much of a bad smell and a bad taste, that, it’s not gonna be a fantastic season for them that if they can get top six, I’d say that’s a very good season for Man United.”
Thankfully for Ten Hag, it appears he has the backing of club legend, Sir Alex Ferguson, despite their sub-par results of late.
A source told The Sun: “Erik has Sir Alex’s unwavering support. He’s been hugely supportive of Erik since he arrived at the club.
“He’s impressed at the job he is doing and, in particular, the way he has taken on big decisions.
“Sir Alex, like everyone else, wishes results were better this season.
“But he thinks those pointing at the manager and calling for a change are wrong.”
Seemingly further solidifying the Dutchman’s immediate future with the club is the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems to have his back.
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British billionaire Ratcliffe appears en route to taking charge of the team’s football operations once his investment in the team is confirmed.
And he reportedly remains confident in Ten Hag’s ability to turn the club around.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
