Pundit Ally McCoist tells Sports Mole that both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur can win trophies this season, but that they are “miles off” challenging for the title.
Ange Postecoglou‘s Tottenham Hotspur need to win a trophy this season more than Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United, pundit Ally McCoist has exclusively told Sports Mole.
Both clubs have started the season in mixed form and sit next to each other in mid-table with seven points apiece after five Premier League games, ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the two at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s future at United has been uncertain for some time despite the fact he won the FA Cup last season and the EFL Cup in 2022-23, with the Dutchman defiantly insisting after the FA Cup triumph that if he is dismissed, he will simply win trophies at another club because winning silverware is what he does.
Postecoglou spoke similarly in the aftermath of his side’s defeat against Arsenal earlier in September when he said that he always wins trophies in his second season at whichever club he has been in charge of.
McCoist believes that both clubs will be in the mix for silverware this term, but claims that Spurs need to get their hands on a trophy more than Ten Hag and Man United.
“They must have a chance. [Both teams winning trophies this year] is not without the realms of possibility. You’ve got to say Tottenham could do with winning a trophy more than Manchester United!” McCoist told Sports Mole.
“Manchester United supporters want to be back challenging for the title. Spurs fans just want a trophy.”
McCoist: I “love” watching Spurs
Spurs have not won major silverware since their EFL Cup triumph in 2008 against Chelsea and have since gone on to lose three EFL Cup finals, as well as a Champions League final in 2019.
Despite this lack of trophy success in the last 16 years, McCoist thinks that Postecoglou has implemented a fundamentally good style of football, and that it is only a lack of consistency that prevents them from achieving more.
“I’m not in any way, shape or form a Spurs supporter,” McCoist told Sports Mole, “but I love watching them. I absolutely love watching Spurs! It doesn’t matter who they’re playing or where they’re playing.
“I saw them at home the other week – tremendous. Then I watched them at Newcastle, a game they should have won, they end up losing 2-1! That’s the problem Spurs have got, it is just a lack of consistency.”
Postecoglou has come under fire for his supposed cavalier playstyle, with pundits like Jamie Carragher suggesting that the Australian will not win major honours and could find himself sacked if he refuses to adapt.
In response to similar criticism of his comments about winning trophies after his side’s loss against Arsenal, Postecoglou said he was confused by the negative reaction, and insisted he was just highlighting his record at previous clubs like Celtic.
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McCoist: Both teams “miles off” winning the title
Ten Hag has regularly pointed to the fact that he has won two trophies in his first two seasons at Manchester United in defence of his tenure at the club, and McCoist feels that his record in cup competitions suggests that he is more than capable of winning silverware this term.
However, McCoist also feels that the expectations on Ten Hag should be considerably higher than that of Postecoglou, and when talking about the difference between Spurs and United, he told Sports Mole: “They’re completely different entities.
“Both teams are without doubt capable of winning a cup this year, but both teams, in my opinion, are miles off it in terms of winning the title.”
With the October international break at the end of next week, neither manager will want to head into that period with another defeat adding more pressure to their jobs.
Victory on Sunday could be particularly important for Ten Hag given his side’s next Premier League game is a tough challenge against Aston Villa on October 6, and suffering back-to-back defeats against Spurs and Villa could very well cost him his job.
Spurs are set to take on Brighton and Hove Albion next Sunday at the Amex, but will first play in the Europa League against Ferencvaros on Thursday.
Ally McCoist was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of talkSPORT bet.
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