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.
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Tottenham vs Man Utd: Match facts
These two sides have already faced off twice this season, with Spurs emerging victorious on both occasions.
In September, the north London side ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford in the Premier League, before a comical match saw them beat United 4-3 in the Carabao Cup in December.
'Time for change': Tottenham fans stage protest
Tottenham fans have gathered in huge numbers to protest against chairman Daniel Levy.
A “peaceful march against the board” has taken place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before fans are called to congregate inside the South Stand concourse pre-match.
After full-time, supporters have been urged to “no matter the result applaud the players” before a sit-in protest to show the club board “enough is enough”.
Tottenham vs Man Utd: Postecoglou backs Amorim
Spurs boss Postecoglou, who has also come under criticism for sticking to his own particular tactical style, has backed Ruben Amorim ahead of the match.
“I’m sure, and who am I to advise anybody, if Man Utd stuck with Ruben for the next two years, they would see progress.
“Absolutely because that is how long it takes. If anybody can show me somebody who has done it quicker without significant investment, by all means put it across my desk and I will follow that blueprint.
“But we know there is a blueprint there. I’m sure, irrespective of the noise and I have only spoken to Ruben for maybe 30 seconds at a game, I’m sure he is going ‘I’m going to do what I was brought in to do.’ And that is what he should do.”
Tottenham vs Man Utd team news and line-ups
Manchester United start both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, with Amad Diallo ruled out.
Casemiro comes into midfield and partners Bruno Fernandes - that’s because there’s no Manuel Ugarte or Kobbie Mainoo in the squad.
To add to that, Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro are both ill, leaving Ruben Amorim’s squad looking very thin indeed.
There are eight teenagers on the United bench: Harry Amass , Ayden Heaven, Elyh Harrison Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Sekou Kone , Jack Moorhouse and Chido Obi.
Tottenham vs Man Utd team news and line-ups
Tottenham welcome back goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, for his first start since breaking his ankle against Manchester City in November! There is also a return for James Maddison, while Archie Gray and MIkey Moore drop out.
Destiny Udogie and Brennan Johnson are back on the bench.
Tottenham vs Man Utd team news and line-ups
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence, Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison, Kulusevski, Son, Tel
Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Garnacho, Zirkzee; Hojlund
Tottenham vs Man Utd team news
The line-ups should be announced in the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news...
Postecoglou is still dealing with one of the worst injury crises in the league at present, with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Richardson all still sidelined.
Guigliemo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert all returned to training this week, and all five could make a return to the squad.
United could be without Amad Diallo for the rest of the season after the winger suffered an ankle injury. It is touch and go whether the Ivorian returns before the end of the campaign as manager Ruben Amorim, who is already without Lisandro Martinez until next season, has been hit with another injury blow.
Amorim indicated Mason Mount, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Altay Bayindir will remain out on Sunday, with their new setbacks seeing some academy players called up for training.
Match facts
Spurs are winless in seven Premier League home games, drawing two and losing five.
After beating Brentford 2-0 in their last league outing, Spurs are seeking back-to-back league wins for the first time since September.
United have won four of their past five games in all competitions, losing the other.
They have accrued just 14 points from a possible 39 since Ruben Amorim took charge in November - only five sides have picked up fewer in that time.
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Within a few minutes, Ruben Amorim had addressed each of the seemingly incompatible, irreconcilable realities of life at Manchester United in 2025. He cited ‘Mission 21’, the aim of winning the club’s 21st league title. “We talk about that, I sense from day one the focus is to win the Premier League,” said a manager who took a club which had waited a long time for a similar success in his homeland and twice made them champions of Portugal but who, come Sunday evening, could be in charge of the side 16th in England.
The Man Utd problem that could turn ‘Mission 21’ into mission impossible
Postecoglou: 'We’re not all or nothing on anything'
In his own conference, Ange Postecoglou said that Spurs “still want to progress in the league” despite having nothing to fight for domestically.
“We’re not happy with the position we’re in. There are still significant games. It’s not like there is a few games to go. There is still a lot of football “to be played in the league and we want to address our league position and finish the season strong,” said the Australian.
“Alongside that obviously the Europa League now is a great focus for us with us being out of the other cups, but we’re not saving anyone for anything.”
On his side’s style of football, he added: “That's the kind of football we want to play. It's the kind of team we want to be, and the next two to three weeks allows us to get some players back, which will help with our training, help with our preparation, help with our ability to rotate.
“But also not having midweek games gives us a good chance to recover between games to reach those levels.”
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