Ryan Giggs has changed his mind about the outcome of Manchester United’s clash against Tottenham on Saturday following last weekend.
Jose Mourinho’s side go into the Old Trafford showdown level on points with Spurs after nine games of the Premier League campaign.
Giggs has explained that he was convinced that United would triumph against the Londoners up until their shock defeat to Huddersfield last Saturday.
Tottenham followed up by crushing Liverpool at home to climb level with Mourinho’s team and leave the two clubs beautifully poised ahead of this weekend’s showdown.
Giggs has suggested the Portuguese is likely to adopt the same cautious tactics he used in the recent goalless draw against Liverpool and has predicted the hosts will be content to take three points without showing off their attacking prowess.
Giggs told the Sky Sports website: “Manchester United versus Tottenham has always been, both at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane, an attractive game. Obviously we’ve got a good record over them at home and I would have said before the last week that Manchester United will win when they face Spurs on Saturday.
“However, I now think that United need to win it more than Tottenham. It’s a huge game and the crowd will really be up for it, but if you go after Tottenham they can get you.
“You always want to put in a good performance but United just need a scrappy 1-0 win. I think Jose Mourinho and the fans would take that and forget about producing an entertaining performance.”
OPINION
The big surprise would be if Mourinho told his players to loosen the handbrake for a match against a Champions League calibre club. The Portugese’s big-match methods are so well known they are almost cliche. Sit back, contain and wait for an opening. If there are no openings forthcoming, settle for a draw and rely on set pieces. Tottenham know what they’re dealing with on Saturday, while United fans will hope for rather than expect the kind of cavalier football that was a fixture of this clash during the Sir Alex Ferguson years.