Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder #10 James Maddison (L) shoots to attain the opening purpose previous Manchester United’s Cameroonian goalkeeper #24 Andre Onana (C) through the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on February 16, 2025. (Picture by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Tottenham gained the battle of the Premier League’s underachievers 1-0 on Sunday to inflict one other dismal outcome on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
James Maddison scored the one purpose on 13 minutes as Spurs moved above United within the desk into twelfth due to a 3rd win over the Pink Devils this season.
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Victory eased the strain on under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou after exiting each home cup competitions this month to go along with their lowly league place.
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United now discover themselves down in fifteenth, however do get pleasure from a 12-point cushion over the underside three.
“The place within the desk is my fear, I’m not frightened about me,” mentioned Amorim, who has gained simply 4 of 14 Premier League video games since taking cost in November.
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“I hate to lose. That feeling is the worst. The remainder I’m not fascinated about.
“I perceive my scenario, my job, I’m assured in my work and I simply need to win video games.”
Tottenham’s first dwelling league win since November got here amid a spirit of revolt amongst their help.
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Earlier than kick-off and after the match Spurs followers once more vented their frustration in the direction of homeowners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy.
An enormous banner learn “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – Time for change” as a sizeable contingent of the house crowd joined a protest calling for Levy to go.
Nevertheless, the temper for Postecoglou was lifted even earlier than kick-off as he was capable of welcome again a bunch of first-team regulars who’ve been sidelined by harm.
‘High quality gamers’ return
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first look since November. Maddison returned to the beginning line-up, whereas Future Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert have been on the bench.
“They’re high quality gamers. We’ve had it fairly robust the final two-and-a-half months,” mentioned Postecoglou. “It was vital for us to win and achieve some traction.
“I definitely really feel there may be nonetheless a large alternative for us on this again half of the season and hopefully right now is the beginning of that.”
United have their very own harm troubles with Amad Diallo becoming a member of Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the remainder of the season and Kobbie Mainoo dominated out for a month.
Amorim needed to title eight youngsters amongst his 9 substitutes, forcing Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to start out collectively up entrance after each have been neglected for United’s final league recreation – a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
READ: ‘We’re worst crew in historical past of Man United’–Ruben Amorim
Hojlund had the primary likelihood when he fired too near Vicario earlier than the Italian flew to his left to disclaim Alejandro Garnacho.
As an alternative, Spurs bought the opener when Andre Onana may solely parry Lucas Bergvall’s shot into the trail of Maddison, who tapped into an empty web for his tenth purpose of the season.
United ought to have been not less than stage by half-time as Garnacho blazed over an excellent alternative with simply Vicario to beat after being picked out by Bruno Fernandes.
Vicario continued to frustrate Garnacho with one other high-quality save after the break.
Zirkzee wasted an enormous likelihood to equalise 20 minutes from time when the Dutch worldwide headed Noussair Mazraoui’s cross extensive with the purpose gaping.
However United’s incapacity to place the ball within the web comes as little shock.
Solely the underside three plus Everton have scored fewer than United’s 28 targets in 25 league video games this season.
On the different finish, Onana saved the guests within the recreation by parrying Dejan Kulusevski’s highly effective effort.
However even Spurs’ makeshift backline couldn’t be breached by Amorim’s males to permit Postecoglou to see some mild on the finish of the tunnel.
