McTominay excited for Tottenham test on tour

Scott McTominay is excited about the prospect of Manchester United resuming the domestic rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur, when the clubs meet in the International Champions Cup in Shanghai on Thursday.

A Marcus Rashford goal gave us a 1-0 victory over Spurs at Wembley in January this year after the North Londoners had won at Old Trafford last August, and McTominay thinks the sides' next encounter will provide a good test as the countdown to the Premier League kick-off continues.

“We had some really good games with Tottenham last season and in pre-season you want to stamp your authority from the [word] go,” Scott told MUTV after the 1-0 win over Inter Milan in our ICC opener.

“You want to go up against them and show them that we’re here for the season ahead and they’re going to have to match us.”

The Reds will be looking to keep up a perfect Tour 2019 record, after three wins out of three and no goals conceded so far. Mason Greenwood's strike helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men edge past Inter Milan in Singapore, and McTominay is happy with how things are shaping up this summer.

“The pre-season games keep coming and they’re getting more difficult. We put a strong team out and it was a test,” the 22-year-old added, reflecting on the Inter match.

“The first 60 minutes showed that they are a compact team who defend really well and they want to hit you on the counter attack as well. It was a tough game.”

In humid conditions, United benefited from bringing on almost an entire new eleven around the hour mark. with McTominay among the many reinforcements.

“When the boys came on at 60 minutes we did really well to pressurise Inter, forcing them to make mistakes and try to play out from the back.

“It wasn’t easy for them and we showed some real energy and determination to try to get a goal.”

One of the most notable aspects of our pre-season so far is the way in which we’ve pressed our opposition in their defensive third – something that Spurs have become renowned for under boss Mauricio Pochettino.

McTominay said the squad are relishing the additional physical demands being placed upon them.

“I was speaking to Phil [Jones], Ash [Young] and Mason [Greenwood] after the game and we’re saying it’s enjoyable whenever you play like that,” revealed the Scotland international.

“It’s a nice way of showing teams that we’re here to compete and that we can beat them in every aspect all over the pitch. That’s the message we get from the coaching staff as well.”

Aaron Wan-Bissaka will go into Thursday's game in China on the back of a Man-of-the-Match performance against Inter and McTominay waxed lyrical about the impact the new signing has had on his fellow team-mates.

“We were watching on the side and it’s absolutely ridiculous the way it looks like he’s diving in, but he’s so controlled in the way that he does it,“ said Scott, admiring the right-back's tackling ability.

“He’s another one who is learning every day from the coaching staff. It takes time to come to a new team and adapt but he’s settled in straightaway.

“He’s just like one of the boys and it’s nice to have him around as well. He’s another big player that’s going to be a great addition to the squad.”