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 16:54 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

23 mins: MISS! DEARY ME. An astonishing miss from Garnacho. Hojlund drags the Tottenham defence away and Garnacho is left with room to take a touch and aim at goal, but the young winger gets it all wrong and blasts wildly over the crossbar.

Amorim howls.

(REUTERS)

[16 February 2025 16:53 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

22 mins: CLOSE! Zirkzee turns on the edge of the box, works a yard of space, and then sends a dipping shot wide of the post.

[16 February 2025 16:52 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

20 mins; Tottenham are having fun down United’s right, with Maddison, Son and Spence all enjoying little pockets of space.

The United midfield of Casemiro and Fernandes is being pulled apart, while Mazraoui and Dalot are being outnumbered.

Maddison vs Fernandes is a great duel.

[16 February 2025 16:49 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

18 mins: A big impact from Vicario already, then, as his double save from Hojlund and Garnacho was followed by Maddison punishing Onana’s spill.

Tottenham are alive and are back on the front foot after taking the early lead.

[16 February 2025 16:47 · Miguel Delaney, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium]

'This could be high-scoring'

16 mins: United have looked loose at the back in the early minutes and the warnings were not heeded. Yet another ball from out wide has opened them. Lucas Bergvall forced a save from Andre Onana, that allowed James Maddison to tap in. There is at least hope for United in how they got at Spurs already. This could be high-scoring.

(Action Images via Reuters)

GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd (MADDISON 13')

MADDISON IS BACK WITH A BANG!

It’s so poor from United’s defence, who were sleeping. Bergvall is able to bring the ball down and shoot in the box but Onana’s save is soft. Maguire and De Ligt are standing like statues but Maddison is alive, he follows in and puts the rebound away.

Back from injury, there’s the old “darts” celebration from Maddison. He’s back on target.

(Action Images via Reuters)

16 February 2025 16:43

[16 February 2025 16:41 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd

10 mins: SAVE! AND OFF THE LINE! Man Utd suddenly fly forward and are unlucky not to be in front.

Davies looks like he is running through water as Hojlund is played in over the top. He forces a sharp stop from Vicario, then Garnacho curls towards the top corner and the goalkeeper pulls out another stop up high. Then, Dalot fires at goal and the recovering Davies has to hack away.

Spurs escape.

[16 February 2025 16:39 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd

8 mins: A small stoppage of play as Bentancur and Zirkzee clash heads duelling for a high ball. Spurs resume looking to build some early control once play resumes.

[16 February 2025 16:37 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd

6 mins: Yep, Spurs have started better. Spence beats Fernandes with ease down the left but the full-back can’t keep his cross in play. The home fans, who were protesting before kick off, are getting behind the players on the pitch.

[16 February 2025 16:36 · Jamie Braidwood]

Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd

5 mins; Spurs with the first moment of the game as Maddison wins a free kick. They chose to play short but United clear eventually despite a strange pass-back from Garnacho.

Son swings in a cross that evades everyone but is kept in by Kulusevski.