Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham marked yet another low point in a season that has exposed the club’s growing instability. With little left to salvage, the focus has shifted squarely onto manager Ruben Amorim and what comes next.
Despite the poor results, it is widely expected that Amorim will remain in charge at least at the start of the upcoming season. However, for the first time since his arrival, the pressure on him is clearly mounting. His insistence on looking ahead to next season has now come under intense scrutiny.
Gareth Bale, commenting after the Spurs loss, offered a critical perspective that challenges the club’s current strategic direction. He argued that Amorim cannot be expected to succeed unless he’s allowed to reshape the team with players who fit his high-intensity, tactical system. Bale noted that Amorim has been forced to compromise his style due to the lack of suitable personnel, and only sustained support through the transfer market can allow him to fully implement his philosophy.
This viewpoint directly conflicts with recent declarations from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS leadership. They have emphasized a desire to establish a consistent Manchester United identity that remains intact regardless of who is in charge—effectively asking managers to adapt to the club, not the other way around.
This presents a serious dilemma. If United fully commit to Amorim’s approach, they risk overhauling the squad in a way that may not suit a future manager should Amorim fail. On the other hand, refusing to tailor the squad to his needs could result in another disappointing campaign.
The stakes are even higher given the club’s failure to qualify for European competition, significantly limiting revenue and reducing flexibility in the transfer market. With these constraints, there is virtually no room for error—either in managerial support or recruitment strategy.
Amorim, who only had a single transfer window and minimal influence on incoming signings, now finds himself needing immediate results. The emergence of youngster Ayden Heaven has been a rare bright spot, but much more will be required.
Ultimately, United face a delicate balancing act: either deviate from their long-term blueprint to back Amorim fully or stick to their principles and risk repeating the mistakes of this season. As Bale suggested, time and autonomy may be Amorim’s only path to success, but time is the one thing United no longer have in abundance.
Meanwhile, Roy Keane reignited his earlier criticism of Tottenham’s James Maddison following the game, continuing a theme of public accountability that has surrounded United’s turbulent season.
