Ryan Mason’s verdict on United: “We can walk off knowing we were together, and that’s important” | OneFootball

Ryan Mason wanted to see a reaction from Sunday’s loss at Newcastle and the players delivered as we recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Manchester United on Thursday night.

Jadon Sancho opened the scoring on seven minutes, but we actually recovered well, David De Gea twice denied Ivan Perisic and three crosses flashed across goal, only for United to double their lead on the break through Marcus Rashford just before half-time.

The comeback started with Clement Lenglet hitting the crossbar at the start of the second half before Pedro Porro fired into the top corner for 2-1 on 57 minutes. Heung-Min Son and Eric Dier had chances before Sonny tapped home from Harry Kane’s cross to level on 79 minutes.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY, Acting Head Coach Ryan told us: “To come in 2-0 down, off the back of the weekend as well, and go out there and fight for each other, and with our fans as well, because I felt them with us, that’s important, to see a team that’s together. The group stuck together, they fought for each other, and we played a lot of the second half in their half of the pitch, which I was pleased about. We created a lot of chances, should have scored more and we can walk off knowing we were together, and that’s important.”

United ‘clinical’ in first half

Ryan: “They were causing us problems, but they were also clinical. Before their second goal, we had a similar opportunity, and it felt like 15, 20 seconds before we were in a similar area of the pitch, didn’t score, 30 seconds later we’re 2-0 down and the feeling is it’s a long way back. At the same time, I thought we were causing them lots of problems with the ball, and maybe if we were a bit more clinical the game might have taken a different rhythm, a different flow. That’s football.”

‘Goals change games’

“Look, maybe if Ivan’s chance had gone in at 1-0 it might have been totally different. That’s football. Momentum was with us in the second half, and it felt like we were getting chance after chance. We had a spell where we had a couple… Eric’s header, Sonny, but we kept going, kept believing, but once we scored the second, I felt there was a change in the energy and the players looked a bit flat. To walk off at 2-2 after being 2-0 down at half-time is relatively pleasing.”

Ryan’s pride

“It means a lot, of course, I’m committed to this Club, always have been. I’m very proud to be standing here representing this Club. I’ve always said I feel ready, and I wanted to see a team that transferred to our fans that we’re fighting for each other, running for each other and we want to be together. I saw that today, and that makes me very happy.”

More - Ryan on SPURSPLAY