Rúben Amorim’s frustration was evident as he urged Diogo Dalot to stay tighter on Son Heung-min. Within moments, Dalot remained too narrow, allowing Son to capitalize on the space, which ultimately led to James Maddison’s match-winning goal.
This lack of responsiveness to clear tactical instructions epitomizes the mentality issues plaguing Manchester United. If the squad struggles to follow basic defensive directives, mastering Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system seems an even greater challenge.
Dalot, a vocal presence in the team, often rallies the supporters before kick-off with passionate gestures, but that same intensity was lacking in his approach to Son—something that proved costly.
Frustration on the Touchline
Amorim’s body language spoke volumes throughout the match. With his shoulders slumped and arms outstretched, he expressed disbelief at United’s poor positioning and Casemiro’s erratic distribution. The coach was visibly exasperated, frequently instructing players on the pitch and voicing his frustration to his staff after a wasted attacking overload.
He also didn’t hide his disappointment with Rasmus Højlund, who was caught offside and reacted with a sheepish grin. Some may see it as a lighthearted moment, but given the Danish striker’s 15-game goal drought, others will question his attitude in a struggling side.
At full-time, Amorim slapped his thighs in frustration before embracing Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. The final whistle marked United’s tenth goalless game of the season and their second consecutive Premier League defeat.
United’s Decline and Fan Frustration
Despite another disappointing result, the traveling United supporters showed their appreciation for the players and coaching staff. With 12 first-team players unavailable due to injuries and illness, losing away to Tottenham wasn’t entirely unexpected. However, this marked United’s third defeat to a struggling Spurs side within five months—something that will be tough for fans to accept.
A banner in the away end read “We want our club back,” while Spurs fans voiced their own frustrations with chairman Daniel Levy, unveiling a sign that read “Our game is about glory, Levy’s game is about greed.” Chants of “We want Levy out” echoed around the stadium in the third minute, with some fans staging a sit-in protest after the match.
United’s current trajectory is reminiscent of the club’s struggles in the 1970s. They haven’t lost this many games after 25 league matches since their infamous relegation season in 1973-74. Next week, they travel to Goodison Park sitting below Everton in the table for only the second time since David Moyes was United’s manager in 2014.
With 12 league defeats already this season—just two shy of last year’s total—and nine losses in 21 games under Amorim, the pressure is mounting. Despite the setbacks, the Portuguese coach applauded his players as full-time neared, recognizing their effort and attacking intent. United registered 16 attempts on goal, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into six saves.
Signs of Fight but No End Product
The 3,038 traveling United fans remained defiant, singing throughout the match. Alejandro Garnacho, despite the team’s struggles, showcased his commitment, chasing down clearances and testing Vicario with a fierce strike.
However, finishing remained a glaring issue. Both of United’s £108.5 million strikers started, but their impact was minimal. Joshua Zirkzee displayed moments of skill but squandered his only clear-cut chance with a poor header.
The squad’s lack of depth was also apparent. United arrived late to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, only to see an uninspiring bench announced. The substitutes list looked like a throwback to the League Cup squads of Sir Alex Ferguson’s early years, when youth players were often thrown in. Eight of the substitutes had never played for the first team before, with 30-year-old Victor Lindelöf acting as the de facto mentor for a group of youngsters whose squad numbers totaled a staggering 393.
Amorim hesitated to make changes, waiting until the 90th minute to introduce fresh legs. At one point, five substitutes warmed up as late as the 70th minute, only to sit back down without being called upon. Tottenham, in contrast, had made all five changes by the time Chido Obi finally stepped onto the pitch.
Obi, wearing the number 56 jersey, waited patiently before crossing the white line deep into stoppage time. Earlier in the week, reserve team coach Travis Binnion had remarked that another youngster, Sekou Kone, wasn’t physical enough for U23 football—a concerning reality given United’s current reliance on untested players.
Technical director Jason Wilcox was heavily involved in recruiting some of these young talents, including Patrick Dorgu, Kone, Obi, and Ayden Heaven. However, as the season wears on, it’s clear United will need more experienced reinforcements in the summer—especially if they want their senior players to start taking tactical instructions seriously.