Solanke praises Tottenham’s fighting spirit after dramatic comeback against Manchester United
Dominic Solanke has praised Tottenham Hotspur’s determination after they battled back to earn a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite being reduced to 10 men during the closing stages, Spurs refused to give up and found a late equaliser to rescue a valuable point against their Premier League rivals.
Tottenham show character at Old Trafford
Solanke believes Tottenham demonstrated significant mental strength by fighting back against Manchester United, although he admitted the result did not feel like a victory.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, the striker explained that Spurs had controlled much of the first half and created enough opportunities to establish a comfortable lead before the break.
He felt his team should have scored at least twice during that period, making their failure to take advantage of their dominance particularly frustrating.
However, Tottenham’s task became considerably more difficult in the second half when they were forced to continue with 10 players. Despite the disadvantage, they maintained their attacking intent and eventually secured a share of the points.
Solanke explained that the team wanted to respond differently after previously struggling to recover when falling behind. He added that continuing to push for a result while trailing and playing with one fewer player demonstrated the character within the squad.
The draw represents an important moment for a Tottenham side that has endured a difficult start to the 2026-27 season. With Roberto De Zerbi under pressure to improve results, the performance offered some encouragement, even though Spurs are still searching for their first league victory since May.
Solanke admits he wasted several opportunities
Although Solanke eventually found the net, the Tottenham forward acknowledged that his performance could have been even more impressive had he converted his earlier chances.
The former Bournemouth striker caused problems for Manchester United’s defence throughout the first half, but several promising opportunities went begging as Spurs struggled to turn their superiority into goals.
Reflecting on his display after the match, Solanke admitted that he could have scored three times. Nevertheless, he was pleased to have found the net when his team needed it most.
His persistence eventually proved decisive as he directed a header beyond Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, silencing the home supporters and securing a dramatic equaliser for the visitors.
The goal capped a determined performance from Solanke, who continued searching for opportunities despite Tottenham’s difficulties in front of goal earlier in the contest.
### Bentancur’s dismissal highlights Tottenham’s unity
The match took another dramatic turn in the 78th minute when Rodrigo Bentancur received a red card following a confrontation involving Manchester United defender Luke Shaw.
The dismissal left Tottenham facing an even greater challenge, but Solanke believes the players’ response demonstrated their willingness to stand together and fight for the club.
He admitted that the incident had unfolded so quickly that he had not yet watched it again. However, he highlighted the determination and passion shown by his teammates throughout the difficult closing stages.
The striker suggested that the squad’s hunger to do the right thing and compete for one another was evident in the way they responded to the setback.
That fighting spirit will be particularly encouraging for De Zerbi, who has been demanding greater personality and determination from his players as he attempts to turn Tottenham’s season around.
### Solanke confident Tottenham can recover
Despite earning a point at Old Trafford, Tottenham still have considerable work to do if they are to climb away from the relegation zone.
Their failure to win any of their opening six league matches remains a significant concern, and the team will need to start converting encouraging performances into victories.
Nevertheless, Solanke believes the resilience displayed against Manchester United can provide a foundation for improvement, particularly if Tottenham can combine their late determination with the attacking quality they demonstrated before half-time.
The striker acknowledged that there are still areas the team must improve, but he expressed confidence that better results will eventually follow.
Solanke also backed his teammates to build on the performance, insisting that Tottenham could soon begin to enjoy a much more successful period if they maintain their mentality and continue working to correct their mistakes.
For De Zerbi, the challenge now is to ensure that the character shown at Old Trafford becomes a regular feature of Tottenham’s performances rather than an isolated moment of encouragement.
It doesn’t feel like a win!’ – Dominic Solanke drops honest Tottenham verdict after dramatic Man Utd comeback
