Jose Mourinho has instructed his Tottenham Hotspur players to forget about their 6-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in October, claiming that the result will have no influence on the outcome of the rematch on Sunday.
When the two sides met at the start of the season, United suffered their joint-heaviest Premier League defeat thanks to an electric attacking display from Spurs, led by Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, and a defensive disaster from the home side, who were reduced to ten men in the 28th minute while trailing 2-0.
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United, on the other hand, will be happier with how their season has progressed since then. While a title threat never materialized, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team is comfortably in the top four, with an 11-point lead over Spurs in sixth place.
And, according to Mourinho, the focus of his team should be on their opponents' season-long form and the competitiveness of prior meetings between the two sides, rather than on a single odd result.
He stated, "I believe that 6-1 does not reflect reality." "I lean heavily toward the other two previous encounters between us and United.
"With the penalty, we lost 2-1 at Old Trafford, and we drew 1-1 at home last season, also with a penalty." This, I believe, is more accurate.
"I'm not sure if Solskjaer would utilize that result, but if it were my team losing 6-1 to them, I'd tell my players that it happened once and it won't happen again."
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In fact, it looks that Solskjaer is using United's 6-1 loss to encourage his players and ensure that they learn from a game that the Norwegian referred to as his "worst day" in his career.
Solskjaer remarked, "I think the players will remember that game with a lot of anguish." "Our professional dignity had been shattered... we were so bad, and I'm confident that some players would want to show that we're better than that."
United's recovery has been aided by their unbeaten away record, which includes nine victories and six draws in 15 games. However, Mourinho insisted that record would not deter his side, who are determined to break into the top four following an uneven season.
"I'm not going to say anything about the record except to congratulate you on it." We'll make an effort to win the game. It's the only thing I can say," Mourinho stated, as his side looks to rebound from a disappointing 2-2 draw against Newcastle United last weekend.
It's going to be difficult for a variety of reasons, but that record isn't going to stop us from believing we can win or fighting to win."
The effect of striker Harry Kane will be crucial to Tottenham's aspirations of winning on Sunday and, as a result, their ambitions to finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.
The England captain is having another outstanding season, leading the Premier League in both goals (19) and assists (13) scored.
Solskjaer has been preparing his defenders for the threat Kane and strike partner Son will provide at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which comes as no surprise.
"Obviously, when you play against one of the best center-forwards in European football, it is something that we prepare for," said Solskjaer, who leads United to Tottenham three days after a 2-0 win over Granada in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.
"You know Son and Kane's season, their chemistry, and of course that's one of Tottenham's strengths, but they also have other excellent players that we have to be aware of."
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