Rúben Amorim remains resolute in his approach despite Manchester United’s struggles, after his depleted squad suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham. This latest setback marks United’s 12th league loss of the season, leaving them languishing in 15th place with only 12 points separating them from the relegation zone.
James Maddison’s first-half goal secured Spurs’ first home league victory since November, providing some relief for their under-pressure manager. Maddison, who faced criticism from former United captain Roy Keane last week, celebrated his goal by putting a finger to his lips in response. United had their chances, notably through Alejandro Garnacho, but Guglielmo Vicario’s brilliant save denied them an equalizer.
For United, this campaign has been their worst in terms of losses after 25 games since they were relegated in 1974. The situation has been exacerbated by injuries, with key players Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad Diallo all ruled out for the match. Amorim acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but remained steadfast in his philosophy, insisting that his focus is solely on the next game rather than the bigger picture.
“You grow and learn a lot from these moments,” he said. “It hurts to lose so many games, but things can change quickly. My job here is incredibly difficult, but I stick with my beliefs. We need to stop focusing on the big picture and concentrate on the next game. Right now, it’s about not even looking at the table or the schedule.”
United’s injury crisis was highlighted by their limited options on the bench, with Victor Lindelöf being the only substitute with first-team experience. Amorim admitted that losing key players during the week disrupted their preparations but refused to use it as an excuse. “At the start of the week, we tried to train properly, but every day we lost another player. Still, we have to face the challenge head-on. Other teams are dealing with similar issues,” he said.
Before kick-off, more than 1,000 Spurs supporters gathered in protest against chairman Daniel Levy, organized by the Change for Tottenham action group. While some fans stayed after full-time for a planned sit-in protest, the numbers had significantly dwindled. Despite the off-field unrest, Tottenham’s manager praised the fans for their support.
“I thought the fans were fantastic today,” he said. “They got behind the team and helped us get the result we needed. It’s unacceptable where we are in the table, but today was an important step. We have an opportunity to climb up the standings.”
Maddison later admitted that Keane’s criticism fueled his performance. The former United midfielder had questioned whether the playmaker could revive Tottenham’s fortunes, stating that he was relegated with Leicester and would suffer the same fate with Spurs. Maddison responded in style, delivering the decisive moment of the match.
“There was some outside noise this week,” he said. “People will always have their opinions, but no one is more critical of me than myself. The manager wants us to stay in our own bubble, but it’s hard to avoid things with social media. It’s been a tough few months for the lads who have been playing every few days, so it’s nice to come back from injury and help take some pressure off them.”
With the win, Tottenham moved up to 12th place, offering a glimmer of hope for their season, while United remain in a precarious position.
