Manchester United kicked off the new Premier league season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after an own goal by Kyle Walker handed the points to louis van Gaal’s new-look side.
Walker prodded the ball into his own net in the 22nd minute as the Spurs defender tried to deny United captain Wayne Rooney an easy scoring opportunity at a sunlit Old Trafford.
It was one of very few chances in a scrappy match, with Spurs’ hopes of an equalizer coming mainly in the closing minutes with two shots from attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen. “It was a very difficult game because you have seen two teams that want to press, so every player at the ball had a very small (amount of) time to play,” Van Gaal told BT Sport. “We didn’t keep the ball too much ... but we created a few chances.”
As for his new signings, the Dutchman said: “It’s always difficult, it’s the first time they play at Old Trafford... but I Iiked the performance.”
Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino made no secret of his feelings about the game’s turning point after 22 minutes. “Very frustrated, disappointed, because until this moment we played much better, created some chances, we dominated the game,” he said. “And with one mistake, we give the opportunity to score.”
United started with four new players, with Sergio Romero in goal after Van Gaal decided that Real Madrid target David de Gea was not in the right frame of mind to play.
Fullback Matteo Darmain, along with midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay all made convincing debuts and Romero improved after some early signs of nerves.
Tottenham made by far the better start and could easily have been ahead after five minutes. Striker Harry Kane sent a clever chip over the United defense but Eriksen could only send his cushioned volley over the bar from close range with Romero at his mercy.
Spurs were repeatedly caught out by the offside rule as they tried to get behind United’s back four, but still looked the most likely team to score before gifting United its opener.
The visitors only had themselves to blame after a sloppy pass by Nabil Bentaleb gave the ball away in midfield. Ashley Young sped down the right flank before crossing for the unmarked Rooney, who had keeper Michel Vorm to beat. As the United striker hesitated, Walker arrived just in time to spear the ball away from Rooney’s feet, into the goal post.