Louis van Gaal knows Manchester United will have to deal with the whole Tottenham Hotspur team in order to win Sunday’s clash, not just the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer Harry Kane.
Kane’s 22 goals have helped Spurs mount a serious title challenge this season; they are second in the table and still harbour hopes of clawing back leaders Leicester City in the final seven games.
United are aiming to keep up the pressure on fourth-placed Manchester City with victory at White Hart Lane and, as van Gaal insisted in Friday’s pre-match press conference, that will require a collective effort.
“Harry Kane is, of course, a very good striker, but he hasn’t scored against us,” van Gaal pointed out. “When I say that then I am challenging him also, so it is not so smart.
“Yes, Kane is important. But we defend also against the attack of Tottenham Hotspur because we have analysed them and [Christian] Eriksen and Dele Alli are also important.
“Maybe I can start with [goalkeeper Hugo] Lloris, who does very quick set-plays, or [Toby] Alderweireld, who has a very good pass. It is the whole team that you have to solve, not just Harry Kane.”
Asked for his thoughts on opposite number Mauricio Pochettino’s work at Tottenham, van Gaal replied: “They have a very good squad and he has made a team of this squad, a team that presses high with a good positional game and they score a lot of goals.
“They also have a lot of clean sheets, though, which shows they are a well-organised and structured team. I think you can give credit to him.”
Leicester, who are in action earlier on Sunday away at Sunderland, could be 10 points clear by the time United’s game kicks off in north London, which would increase the pressure on Spurs.
“It is not easy for them – very difficult, in fact,” van Gaal stated. “The pressure is now on Tottenham Hotspur because they have to close the gap on Leicester City. I think that Leicester are in a very good position.”
Credit: Manutd
Van Gaal: Spurs Have Several Threats
