Manchester city coach sends message to Ruben Amorim after United Humiliating loss against Tottenham in the Europa league final.
Manchester United’s Europa League journey ended in disappointment as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the final at San Mamés. The only goal of the night came in the 42nd minute when Pape Matar Sarr’s cross took an unfortunate deflection off Luke Shaw, leading to an own goal credited to Brennan Johnson. Despite late efforts, United couldn’t mount a comeback, handing Spurs their first major silverware since 2008.
Following the loss, speculation arose surrounding a comment allegedly made by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola aimed at United’s manager, Ruben Amorim. Guardiola reportedly said Amorim was a “baby coach” who ignored tactical advice, particularly concerning a specific Spurs player. While this quote hasn’t been verified, it has fueled conversations about Amorim’s inexperience and match-day choices.
Amorim’s stint at United since his appointment in November has been turbulent. He inherited a team struggling for form and was further hampered by an injury crisis that saw the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo miss crucial parts of the campaign. Despite these challenges, he managed to guide United to a European final — a bright moment in an otherwise bleak season that saw the club slump to 16th in the Premier League, their lowest finish in decades.
A key point of contention has been Amorim’s unwavering commitment to his 3-4-3 formation. Pundits, including Stephen Warnock, argue that the setup doesn’t suit United’s current squad and limits their ability to create chances. The decisive own goal in the final came from a position that may have been better protected under a different tactical approach, further exposing the limitations of Amorim’s preferred system.
In his post-match remarks, Amorim admitted to the team’s many shortcomings, pointing out that despite reaching the final, there’s still a lot of work ahead. However, such honesty hasn’t done much to reassure fans, many of whom are growing restless and are calling for a change either in tactics or leadership.
This loss has only intensified scrutiny on Amorim’s position. With rumors swirling about high-profile managers like Zinedine Zidane being considered as potential successors, the pressure on Amorim is immense. Unless he delivers immediate and significant improvements, the label of “baby coach” — whether fair or not — might come to define his time at Old Trafford.
