Another Europa League final ended in heartbreak for Manchester United as the Red Devils plunged to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
The worst part about the defeat in Bilbao was the fact that Spurs put out a weakened XI due to injuries, and yet the Old Trafford side failed to score.
As soon as Ruben Amorim’s side faces a Premier League side, all their confidence goes out the window, and it happened yet again at the San Mames stadium.
Apart from a Rasmus Hojlund header from Vicario error and Alejandro Garnacho’s shot, there was hardly any threat on the Spurs goal. For all the possession, United only passes it sideways and backwards.
Nothing worked
The lack of width was telling yet again, and once again, Amorim’s 3-4-3 system let the team down, as it has against English teams all season.
The Portuguese tactician has been banking on the Europa League for sometime now, letting Premier League games go by while focussing on this as the club’s route back to the Champions League.
But it all unravelled in familiar manner for the 20-time English league champions and it is all on the head coach.
He dropped Alejandro Garnacho, his most direct attacking threat, for the final while choosing to start Rasmus Hojlund, who has been absolutely shocking all season.
Amorim’s selection calls to blame
And playing Luke Shaw despite the Englishman being shaky since his return from injury was another baffling decision. Especially when Victor Lindelof and Ayden Heaven were all fit.
No silverware, no Champions League football and a possible 17th-place finish in the league, how can INEOS justify the decision to bring in Amorim mid-season and now keep him moving forward?
The co-owners are unlikely to have the funds to recruit well, which means Amorim will have his task cut out for him and he will have to work wonders with a weak squad in his full season. What if he does not start well?
Another interminable loop awaits United as things stand.
Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
