Man Utd news: Ruben Amorim admits ‘everything is going wrong’ as Red Devils slump to 15th
Manchester United's turbulent season took another hit as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them 15th in the Premier League standings.
James Maddison’s early strike proved decisive in condemning United to their third loss to Spurs this season and further deepening the challenges faced by head coach Ruben Amorim.
With some tough domestic fixtures on the horizon and a Europa League campaign still to rally around, the interesting times look to continue at Old Trafford.
Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo takes a look at the Red Devils’ struggles under Amorim.
A gruelling task for Amorim
Speaking after the loss to Spurs, a frustrated Amorim acknowledged the difficulties he is facing.
“My job is so, so hard here,” he said in a candid post-match interview.
The Portuguese coach, who took over in November, has struggled to turn United’s fortunes around, with just four wins coming from his 14 league games in charge.
And while there is still hope for success in the FA Cup and Europa League, United's league campaign has been marred by historic inconsistency and untimely injuries.
This latest setback saw United travel to North London without several key players, including Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad Diallo.
Diallo's injury, sustained in training, has since ruled him out for the rest of the season, further depleting an already stretched squad.
In spite of that, Amorim refused to use injuries as an excuse, stating, “Every coach in the world has problems with that. We have to face the challenge.”
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Lack of cutting edge
United showed glimpses of their attacking intent on Sunday but failed to capitalise on their opportunities.
Amorim pointed to their inefficiency in front of goal as a defining factor.
“In the end, they scored, we didn't,” he stated. “That was the big difference in the game. We created chances, but one goal was always going to decide it.”
Despite being behind for over 70 minutes, Amorim made only one substitution, introducing 17-year-old Chido Obi-Martin in stoppage time.
That reluctance to bring on more youth players was touched on post-match.
“I am trying to be careful with them,” the Portuguese explained. “I felt the team was pushing for a goal, and I didn't want to disrupt that. But they will play.”
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Neville and Redknapp weigh in
Former United defender Gary Neville criticised the team's lack of progress under Amorim, suggesting that performances have remained stagnant since his appointment.
“The club will have to be patient, but I would like to see the performance levels getting higher. This is a very average level United are performing at week in, week out,” he pointed out.
Neville also questioned Amorim’s rigid adherence to his 3-4-3 system, arguing that it does not suit the squad’s current makeup.
“He’s going to die in a ditch on this. He said, ‘I'm not going to change.’ But there must be a different solution,” Neville insisted.
Meanwhile, former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp pointed to United's lack of quality players.
“They are so short of top players, and it will take time and patience,” Redknapp said. “But when you're a club of Manchester United’s stature, patience is not what the fans want to hear.”
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Amorim defiant amid historic struggles
United’s league record this season makes for grim reading.
With 12 defeats in 25 games, they are enduring their worst top-flight campaign since 1973-74, when they were relegated.
Only Leicester City have scored fewer first-half goals than United’s nine, highlighting their ongoing attacking woes.
Amorim, though, remains resolute in his belief that things can turn around in the face of growing pressure.
“What you see and discuss every week, I also see. I have a lot of problems, but I stick with my beliefs,” he said. “This moment will hurt, but you can change things in a week.”
As United’s top-four hopes fade, the focus shifts to securing a strong finish in cup competitions.
However, with a squad stretched to its limits and a demanding fixture schedule ahead, Amorim faces an uphill battle to salvage something from a season that continues to unravel.
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