Manchester United have a new rebuild to start with or without the current manager

"There is a strong sense of optimism inside the club," Erik ten Hag declared in his programme notes on Sunday. "I can feel it." Nobody can see it.

In the Premier League era, Manchester United have never had such a low goals tally after 21 games. They only have one point more at this stage than they did in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick were in the dugout. Dubious company for Ten Hag.

Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou abhors unfounded positivity but Ten Hag is embracing it in a season hitherto littered with failure. United had 10 more goals and 10 more points after 21 league fixtures last term.

Two attempts on target and 36% possession against a Tottenham team deprived of five of their front six is unacceptable. Tottenham were still recognisable even without Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr. United were recognisable for all of the wrong reasons.

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"I have seen some good spells, the two goals, but we also created some other chances," Ten Hag claimed. There was one chance.

Had Scott McTominay repeated another rescue act with that stoppage-time header the points would have temporarily papered over the cracks. It would have given United a fine fillip going into February and fuelled belief of Champions League qualification but defeat for Spurs would have been a travesty.

Even without key absences, Spurs looked a team eight points better off than United. Ten Hag has repeatedly blamed United's lack of identity on the injury toll this season yet Tottenham is proof a team can maintain their style amid