There was a candidate, even though there was not yet a vacancy. Manchester United had suffered the historic humiliation of a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long, drawn-out goodbye continued, some close to Antonio Conte let it be known he was interested in replacing the beleaguered Norwegian. It soon became apparent the attraction was not mutual. United were not keen on the serial Serie A winner.
Solskjaer limped on to instead shape Conte’s future by finishing off Nuno Espirito Santo, whose final Tottenham game was a 3-0 defeat to United. Conte instead succeeded him. And so Saturday's meeting is between the manager United did appoint against the one they could have done.
Ralf Rangnick was only ever an interim; Conte, with his combustibility and his 18-month contract, scarcely exudes long-termism either. That formed part of United’s reservations: they have always wanted a manager with longevity, though results have dictated otherwise.
Yet Conte arrives at Old Trafford with a far better track record of winning trophies than Rangnick. There is an immediate comparison that seems to emphasise a gulf: the Italian masterminded Tottenham’s 3-2 win at Manchester City whereas the German’s side were a rabble by the end of their 4-1 defeat at the Etihad.
Another measure suggests there is less difference: since Conte’s appointment, both clubs have 30 points, albeit with United having played two games more and with a dramatically worse goal difference. Since Rangnick took over from Michael Carrick, United are three points better off than Spurs, but after a rather easier fixture list and having played one match more.
United may survey the drama at Tottenham and feel they were vindicated. Conte threatened to quit after defeat to Burnley. He criticised Spurs’ past record in the transfer market and said their January window left them weaker. He has called Tottenham a mid-table team, questioned his players’ mentality, said the level at the club is “not so high” and generally shown a blunt lack of diplomacy.
It all seemed entirely predictable. United’s reservations may have stemmed from their status as a dysfunctional club. Their transfer-market record is abject, their players are often accused – not least by some of their former greats – of giving up and they have become a byword for underachievement. Conte would have found plenty to condemn.
Burnley 1 Tottenham 0 – player ratings
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BURNLEY RATINGS: Nick Pope 6 - Left in the cold for much of the first half as Spurs failed to threaten, but did everything needed once they grew into the second half. Getty Images -
Connor Roberts 7 - The former Swansea man was both effective defensively and offensively, keeping Son and Sessegnon quiet. PA -
James Tarkowski 8 - Having missed Burnley’s last game, against Brighton, after testing positive for Covid-19, Sean Dyche reverted to his trusty defender, who was straight into the action to clear away Spurs’ advances into the box. Reuters -
Ben Mee 7 - The Burnley veteran headed his side into the lead and claimed his third goal of the season after beating Romero in the air. AFP -
Erik Pieters 7 - The 33-year-old left-back put in quite the shift dealing with Kulusevski, contributing a couple of good blocks and interceptions. AP -
Aaron Lennon 6 - A relatively quiet display by the former Spurs man with just a handful of passes throughout. Getty Images -
Jack Cork 7 - Great display by the midfielder who controlled play and kept Spurs from attacking in the first half. Made it difficult for Spurs to make things happen. Getty Images -
Josh Brownhill 6 - Chested down a cleared corner before hitting the ball on the volley, forcing Lloris into his first real save of the evening. Reuters -
Dwight McNeil 7 - Bright and lively in the opening stages and just as helpful dropping deep to dispossess Spurs. Delivered a beautiful ball for Mee to head into Lloris’ net. Getty Images -
Jay Rodriguez 6 - Returned to the starting line-up after collecting an assist against Brighton at the weekend. Will have been frustrated not to have found the net with the ball bouncing around the six-yard box. Reuters -
Wout Weghorst 7 - The tall target man was clearly happy to drop deep and use his muscle to hold up the ball, with the 29-year-old exhausted from his efforts. Getty Images -
SUB: Ashley Barnes (Weghorst, 87’) – N/R, A late change for the Clarets with Weghorst running out of fuel by the end. Getty Images -
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 6 - The 35-year-old had to be quick off his feet with the testy conditions in Lancashire. He made easy work of claiming Brownhill’s first-half volley. Got low quickly to deny Rodriguez’s header in the second half with an instinctive save. Reuters -
Cristian Romero 6 - Outmuscled Weghorst as Burnley’s January signing charged into the box and was about to unleash the ball from his feet. Beaten in the air by Mee. Reuters -
Eric Dier 7 - Did well to get across and put an end to McNeil’s advances; he had weaved through several Spurs players before trying to get a shot away. AFP -
Ben Davies 6 - Forced Pope into an instinctive save when the ball fell to his feet in the second half. He was solid in defence. PA -
Emerson Royal 6 - The Brazilian was unable to keep his effort low and on target, after weaving past Burnley on the break. Brighter in the second half but taken off as Spurs grew into the game. Reuters -
Rodrigo Bentancur 6 - The former Juventus man ran off a nasty slip on a wet playing surface and did well to continue but was forced off at the break. Getty Images -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 6 - The Danish international struggled to make anything happen in a tough midfield battle against Burnley. Getty Images -
Ryan Sessegnon 5 - Made his third successive start at left wing-back after biding his time during a stop-start season, but was largely unable to make anything happen. AFP -
Dejan Kulusevski 6 - The Juventus loanee was part of much of Spurs’ attacking moves in the first half, although often wanted too much time. Curled a great ball just around the post in the second half. Reuters -
Son Heung-min 5 - Could have easily added an assist on the stroke of half-time but held onto the ball too long, seeing the opportunity fade as Burnley surrounded the Spurs man and pushed him wide. Much livelier after half-time. Getty Images -
Harry Kane 6 - After a frustrating first half, he nearly headed his team into the lead after the break when he connected with Son’s free-kick, only to be denied by the woodwork. Fired just wide when Romero disposed Burnley. Reuters -
SUB: Harry Winks (Bentancur, 46’) 6 - A half-time change for Spurs, and shot straight at England teammate Pope with an effort from the edge of the box. PA -
SUB: Lucas Moura (Royal, 65’) – 6 A tactical change as Spurs threatened in the second half but failed to keep his volley low in the closing minutes. PA -
SUB: Steven Bergwijn (Sessegnon, 78’) N/R - The Dutchman shot straight at Pope in the closing stages. Getty Images
Perhaps he would have sounded out of control at Old Trafford, too; certainly, the Glazers and Ed Woodward would not have appreciated an unflattering interpretation of their record. Conte might have appeared Jose Mourinho in overdrive, lashing out at everyone. It seemed a risk United were not prepared to take.
Moreover, Conte was deemed an imperfect footballing fit. He does not come from the German school of thought, though time will tell if Rangnick’s reign forms part of a smooth transition to a manager with pressing principles.
United cherish their historic image as inveterate attackers. Conte’s reputation as a pragmatist precedes him, though it may be inaccurate. Tottenham have outscored United during his reign. A pragmatic attacker has drawn more from a flagship forward: since Rangnick took over, Cristiano Ronaldo has three league goals and one assist. Harry Kane has scored nine and created two for Tottenham.
And perhaps Conte’s tactical nous and coaching prowess might have revived United. In the battle for fourth place, United have the greatest resources and the most talent in their squad, but Tottenham have the difference-maker in the dugout.
Perhaps Arsenal will pip both. If not, however, tomorrow offers an examination of whether United made the right decision. The perennially driven Conte will probably have still more motivation than usual to win.
Lose, however, and it may suggest Spurs was his rebound job, taken in haste and then regretted.
