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

Ange gives Amorim his backing

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:

Tottenham vs Man Utd LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

• FULL TIME! Tottenham claim rare home win by defeating Man Utd 1-0
• James Maddison scores only goal as Ange Postecoglou's side secure big win
• Ruben Amorim's struggles continue as injury-hit Man Utd fall to 15th
• ‘My job is so hard’, says Manchester United manager Amorim
• 72' MISS! Joshua Zirkzee heads wide from in front of goal (TOT 1-0 MUN)
• 58' SAVE! Vicario gets down sharply to deny Alejandro Garnacho shot (TOT 1-0 MUN)
• 55' SAVE! Garnacho through but denied by Vicario (TOT 1-0 MUN)
• 24' MISS! Garnacho blasts over the bar from in front of goal (TOT 1-0 MUN)
• 13' GOAL! James Maddison follows in after Andre Onana spills (TOT 1-0 MUN)
• Eight teenagers on Manchester United bench as Amorim hit by injuries

[16 February 2025 17:49 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

60 mins: Spurs have barely got out of their own half since the restart but find their way forward- Tel’s turning volley touches a touch wide for a corner.

Spurs take it short - Son cuts inside looking for the sight at goal, and his shot takes a deflection wide and behind.

[16 February 2025 17:46 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

58 mins: SAVE! Brilliant hit from Garnacho, but Vicario gets down sharply to deny him! United are well on top now.

Garnacho brought it down well, facing inside from the left and stepping past Kulusevski. He looked for the near post but Vicario responded.

(Action Images via Reuters)

[16 February 2025 17:43 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

54 mins: Ooooh. That Tottenham high line is creaking! This time Garnacho is played in by Zirkzee’s pass. He brings the save out of Vicario and can’t find Hojlund with the cut-back on the rebound.

(Action Images via Reuters)

[16 February 2025 17:41 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

52 mins: Really good play from Spence down the left as he burns past Mazraoui - but neither Kulusevski or Tel can get a touch on it.

At the other end, Dalot is played through by Maguire and forces the save from Vicario. He was onside - but was flagged off. Vicario saved anyway.

[16 February 2025 17:38 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

49 mins: A wildly bad cross from Son on the left - sailing long of the box. Tottenham could do with a second goal here, given their current run.

[16 February 2025 17:36 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

48 mins; De Ligt concedes a corner after getting on the wrong side of Kulusevski - it ends in Tel striking on target but his shot does not trouble Onana in goal.

[16 February 2025 17:35 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

46 mins: A brief moment of panic as Maddison misses his header in the Tottenham box after Fernandes’ free-kick, but Bentancur is there behind him to hack away.

[16 February 2025 17:33 · Miguel Delaney, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

A first half where you could see why these teams are in the bottom half. It was not high level. If United had any kind of quality in attack, they could have made Spurs' high line pay. As it is, they themselves look like they could concede at any moment.

[16 February 2025 17:32 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

46 mins: Fernandes gets us back underway.

As a reminder, injuries have left Amorim with eight teenagers on his bench and Victor Lindelof as the only player to have made a first-team appearance. He does not have much to work with.

[16 February 2025 17:31 · Jamie Braidwood]

HALF TIME! Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

As it stands, Manchester United are dropping to 15th in the Premier League table. That’s unless they can find a way back against Tottenham, who are leap-frogging them into the dizzy heights of 12th.

Second half coming up.