Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Sunday, dealing another disappointing result to Red Devils’ manager Ruben Amorim. A solitary goal from James Maddison in the 13th minute propelled Spurs above United to 12th position, marking their third triumph over United this season.
The win provided relief for Tottenham’s manager Ange Postecoglou, who had faced criticism following recent eliminations from domestic cup competitions and poor league performance. United slipped to 15th position, though maintaining a comfortable 12-point gap from the relegation zone.
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“The place in the table is my worry, I am not worried about me,” said Amorim, who has managed just four victories in 14 Premier League matches since his November appointment. “I hate to lose. That feeling is the worst. The rest I am not thinking about. I understand my situation, my job, I am confident in my work and I just want to win games.”
Tottenham’s first home league victory since November occurred amidst supporter unrest. Fans expressed their dissatisfaction towards ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy through protests before and after the match. A prominent banner stated “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – Time for change” as supporters demanded Levy’s departure.
Postecoglou’s squad received a boost with several key players returning from injury. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first appearance since November, whilst Maddison returned to the starting eleven. Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were available as substitutes.
“They are quality players. We’ve had it pretty tough the last two-and-a-half months,” said Postecoglou. “It was important for us to win and gain some traction. I certainly feel there is still a massive opportunity for us in this back half of the season and hopefully today is the start of that.”
United faced their own injury challenges, with Amad Diallo joining Lisandro Martinez as long-term absentees and Kobbie Mainoo sidelined for a month. Amorim’s bench included eight teenagers, whilst Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee started upfront.
The match saw several chances for both sides. Vicario denied attempts from Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, whilst Maddison capitalised on Andre Onana’s parry to score. Garnacho missed a clear opportunity before halftime, and Zirkzee failed to convert a promising header later in the match.
United’s offensive struggles continued, with only the bottom three clubs and Everton scoring fewer than their 28 goals in 25 league matches. Despite Onana’s save from Dejan Kulusevski’s effort, Tottenham’s defence held firm to secure victory, offering Postecoglou renewed optimism.