adminDominic Solanke has praised the determination and resilience of his Tottenham Hotspur teammates after they battled back to claim a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite being reduced to ten men during the closing stages, Spurs refused to surrender and eventually found a late equaliser to earn a valuable point.
Tottenham Show Character at Old Trafford
Solanke admitted that although Tottenham’s late response demonstrated the team’s fighting spirit, the result did not feel as satisfying as a victory, particularly given their dominance during the first half.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, the striker reflected on the missed opportunities that prevented Spurs from establishing a comfortable advantage before the break.
“I wouldn’t say it feels like a win. In the first half, we played so well. Dominated the majority and should have been a couple of goals ahead,” Solanke explained.
He also praised his teammates for refusing to give up after going behind and losing a player to a red card.
“In the second half, we go a man down and still managed to get something from the game. It shows the mentality and the character of the team. We’ve been a goal down and not reacted in the right way, we wanted to put that right. Goal down, man down, it would have been easy for us to not go for the win.”
The result represents an important moment for Tottenham, who have endured a difficult beginning to the 2026-27 Premier League season. Having struggled to collect victories in their opening fixtures, Spurs entered the encounter under considerable pressure to deliver a positive performance.
Although the draw does not completely resolve their problems, the determination displayed in the closing minutes could provide a foundation for improvement in the weeks ahead.
Solanke Admits He Missed Several Opportunities
Despite playing a significant role in Tottenham’s comeback, Solanke acknowledged that he could have made a greater impact by converting more of his chances.
The former Bournemouth striker caused Manchester United’s defence numerous problems throughout the first half, but his inability to finish several promising opportunities prevented Tottenham from capitalising on their superiority.
Reflecting on his performance after the final whistle, Solanke admitted that he should have scored more than once.
“I probably should’ve had three goals today,” he said. “I wanted to make sure I kept getting as many as I can. I put one away so I’m thankful for that.”
Nevertheless, his persistence eventually proved crucial as he found the net with a well-directed header, beating Senne Lammens and giving the travelling Tottenham supporters a reason to celebrate.
The equaliser rescued a point for Spurs and highlighted Solanke’s importance to a team desperately searching for consistency in front of goal.
Rodrigo Bentancur’s Red Card Highlights Tottenham’s Determination
Tottenham’s task became considerably more difficult in the 78th minute when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off following a heated incident involving Manchester United defender Luke Shaw.
The dismissal left Spurs with ten players at a crucial stage of the contest, forcing them to overcome an additional challenge while attempting to get back into the game.
Solanke admitted that he had not yet watched the incident again but suggested that the reaction of his teammates demonstrated their willingness to stand together during difficult moments.
“It all happened so quickly so I haven’t seen it back yet. It shows the fight in the team. Everyone is so hungry to do the right thing and show the right passion,” the forward explained.
That collective determination will be encouraging for head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has been urging his players to demonstrate greater confidence, personality and commitment on the pitch.
Tottenham’s response after the dismissal offered evidence that the squad remains united despite the disappointing results that have characterised their opening weeks of the campaign.
Solanke Backs Tottenham to Improve Their Results
Although the draw helped Tottenham move away from the bottom of the Premier League table, their position remains concerning, with the club still searching for a league victory in the early stages of the season.
The North London side must now build on their performance at Old Trafford if they are to climb the standings and ease the growing pressure surrounding their campaign.
For Solanke, the challenge is to combine the fighting spirit demonstrated against Manchester United with the attacking quality Tottenham showed during the opening half.
The striker believes the squad has the ability to turn its fortunes around, provided the players continue working on the weaknesses that have contributed to their disappointing start.
“We’ve got so much to work on. The mentality and character was great. We’re going to put things right eventually and we’ll be flying sooner rather than later,” Solanke concluded.
While one point will not solve Tottenham’s problems overnight, their ability to fight back despite being a goal behind and down to ten men offers a reason for optimism.
De Zerbi will now hope his players can translate that determination into victories, as Spurs look to escape the relegation battle and establish greater stability in the weeks ahead.
admin
