Ruben Amorim moans ‘my job is so hard’ as Manchester United lose again at Tottenham - reaction
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United: James Maddison scored an early winner as Spurs won at home in the league for the first time since November
James Maddison’s early goal was the difference as Tottenham claimed a crucial Premier League victory over Manchester United, with Ange Postecoglou's side leapfrogging Ruben Amorim’s team in the table and leaving the visitors languishing in 15th.
The returning Maddison lifted Tottenham and the influential midfielder was on hand to fire in the rebound after United goalkeeper Andre Onana spilled Lucas Bergvall’s shot in the 11th minute. It was enough to secure Tottenham’s first home win in the league since the start of November .
But United had chances to level and Tottenham required another returning first-team player, in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, to be at his best to deny Alejandro Garnacho’s stinging shot in the second half.
Garnacho, though, should have done better after firing over the bar when left in space in the box during the first half, while Joshua Zirkzee also missed the target later on with a header from close range.
The result offers some relief for Postecoglou but is United’s 12th defeat of the season. Amorim’s squad was decimated by injuries, with the Portuguese forced to name eight teenagers on his bench without a first-team appearance between them.
“I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard but I’m here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs. I will try to do it, I will try to win again,” Amorim told Sky Sports, with a trip to in-form Everton up next.
Follow all the latest from the Tottenham vs Man Utd in our live blog:
Why Tottenham vs Manchester United was one of the worst games in Premier League history
James Maddison ‘shushes’ Roy Keane as Tottenham star hits back at critics with goal celebration
Amad Diallo injury update as Ruben Amorim confirms Man Utd blow
‘My job is so hard’, says Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
What next for Spurs?
Tottenham have trip to Ipswich next Saturday, with the chance to earn some revenge after losing to the Tractor Boys earlier this season.
After that, Spurs face Man City and Bournemouth in the Premier League, so the visit to Portman Road is an opportunity to get some much-needed points on the table.
What next for Man Utd?
After starting the day ahead of Tottenham but ending it below them, Manchester United face a another team who are close to them in the table when they travel to face Everton and former manager David Moyes.
Moyes has enjoyed a wonderful return to Everton - who he left in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford - and the in-form Toffees have taken 13 points from their last 15 available to sit above United in the table.
That looks a cracker.
Man Utd fall to new low under Ruben Amorim
Manchester United have now lost 12 of their first 25 league games this season - the last time they had lost so many at this point in the season, they were relegated in the 1972-73 campaign.
Ruben Amorim on Man Utd injuries
Ruben Amorim says that Kobbie Mainoo is expected to be ruled out for “weeks” with Amad Diallo expected to miss the rest of the season after injuring his ankle.
"It's hard to know,” he said. "Let's wait a few more days. I think [Leny Yoro] and [Christian Eriksen] were sick so they will recover.
"I think we will recover that and the rest we will see. I think Kobe is out. I don't know. Let's see. I think weeks.
"Amad is out for sure. I think until the end of the season, we will see the rest. "
‘My job is so hard’, says Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim bemoaned how hard his Manchester United job was after his injury-hit team lost 1-0 at Tottenham on a day where Amad Diallo was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Diallo sustained an innocuous ankle ligament injury in training this week but was not the only absentee in north London with Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer unavailable with knocks, while Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen were ill.
The aforementioned six joined the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount on the treatment table, which left Amorim with limited options at Spurs as he largely named a bench full of teenagers and watched his team lose for a 12th time in the Premier League this term to drop to 15th.
“I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard but I’m here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs. I will try to do it, I will try to win again,” Amorim told Sky Sports, with a trip to in-form Everton up next.
‘My job is so hard’, says Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
Tottenham fans call for Daniel Levy exit at protest ahead of Man Utd clash
Tottenham Hotspur fans turned out in numbers to protest against chairman Daniel Levy and the club’s ownership before Sunday’s home fixture with Manchester United.
Frustration amongst supporters has increased throughout a difficult winter period and last week saw Ange Postecoglou’s injury-hit team crash out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the space of 72 hours.
Fan group Change for Tottenham had already arranged a protest for the visit of United and a crowd of at least two thousand made their way down the High Road before they congregated outside the stadium where various chants for Levy to leave the club followed.
A number of banners were held up as fans gathered outside the West Stand.
The largest – aimed at majority owners ENIC – read: ‘24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – Time for change’.
Tottenham fans call for Daniel Levy exit at protest ahead of Man Utd clash
Why Tottenham v Manchester United was one of the worst games in Premier League history
Towards the end of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, with the game still in the balance, both Brennan Johnson and Patrick Dorgu lost theirs. The two players careered into each other, leaving them falling to the floor.
It was a moment to sum up what must have been one of the worst Premier League matches ever played, relative to the cost of both squads. This isn’t to criticise either player, or any of the players, or even the managers.
It is just the peculiar context that both clubs find themselves in.
Why Tottenham vs Man Utd was one of the worst games in Premier League history
Ruben Amorim on Man Utd's squad: 'We have to work with the kids'
Ruben Amorim responds to questions surrounding the club’s decision not to recruit any forward players in January, after letting Marcus Rashford and Antony leave and now losing Amad Diallo to injury.
"You know the situation, we cannot bring in players without selling players. Then we try some situations and it was not possible.
"We have young kids and we have to work with the young kids. We were not expecting so many injuries in one week. These things happen. Let's focus on the next game."
James Maddison ‘shushes’ Roy Keane as Tottenham star hits back at critics with goal celebration
James Maddison appeared to hit back at criticism from Roy Keane as the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder scored the winner against Manchester United on his return from injury and shut down the “outside noise” surrounding his performances.
The England international had clearly taken note of Keane’s comments on the Overlap podcast this week, in which the former United captain said Maddison’s return from injury wouldn’t make a difference to Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side.
Maddison ‘shushes’ Keane as Tottenham star hits back at critics with goal celebration
Ruben Amorim on defeat: 'One goal was always going to make the difference'
Ruben Amorim, speaking to Sky Sports, on Manchester United’s defeat to Tottenham.
"In the end, they score, we didn't. That was the big difference in the game. We had a lot of chances but in the end they scored one and we didn't.
"The first step is to create situations. We have had games where we are around the box and not created situations. This game we create situations. But in this game with two teams not doing well, one goal was always going to make the difference.
"You start with one idea. We were asking about a long week for so long. And we worked our principles but day after day you lose players that change your approach to the game. I could not play the same way with Joshua [Zirkzee] as I can with Amad [Diallo].”
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