Ruben Amorim's shocking decision in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur cost the Red Devils big in Bilbao as their abysmal season ended in a nightmare
21:58, 21 May 2025Updated 22:08, 21 May 2025
Spurs taking the lead in Bilbao
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United have to endure one more game until they can call the curtain on their worst season in living memory.
The Red Devils had the chance to turn infamy into glory on Wednesday during a steamy evening in Bilbao, northern Spain. Instead there would be more embarrassment for Ruben Amorim's billion-pound-bottle-jobs.
It was a slow start to the final - one akin to two teams who had spent the season struggling. It didn't take a moment of magic to kick-start the final, rather a defensive mix-up.
Pape Sarr whipped the ball into the box, with Brennan Johnson unable sort his feet out as the ball deflected off Luke Shaw and towards the United net.
United fans blamed Andre Onana, while Ally McCoist, who was appearing on TNT Sports, cited a defensive mix-up.
Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh forward #22 Brennan Johnson (2nd R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the UEFA Europa League final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21, 2025.
There was only one goal that separated the two teams(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Amorim had been slammed for his team selection before kick-off - most notably for the inclusion of Mason Mount.
Mount, who has been in and out of the team through injury all season, was anonymous in the first-half as Amorim almost refused to look to his bench as the half-time whistle came and went.
The Portuguese boss waited and waited, perhaps too long, before pulling the trigger and making some changes.
Manchester United's English defender #05 Harry Maguire and Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian defender #17 Cristian Romero vie for the ball during the UEFA Europa League final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21, 2025.
Manchester United grew into the game after a slow start(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
When Alejandro Garnacho, who had cut a disgruntled figure on the bench, entered the pitch the Red Devils were the team in the driving seat as Spurs dropped further and further back.
Rasmus Hojlund would surely have thought he'd found the back of the net until some incredible defending from Micky Van de Ven to pluck the ball off the goal line.
Garnacho was the missing spark, and Spurs were scrambling - desperate to see out a first major trophy success in almost two decades.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, celebrates his teams first goal scored by Brennan Johnson (not pictured) with his coaching staff during the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.
Tottenham went lower and lower into their own box(Image: Getty Images)
The clock was against United as every Spurs player set up shop in their own box - repelling each United attack.
It was the lowest of low blocks from Ange Postecoglou's side, who were reduced to hacking the ball away out of desperation more than anything else.
Luke Shaw saw his header batted away by Guglielmo Vicario in the dying embers as United started to get desperate.
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There was no moment of quality to bring the game to a close, it was scrappy from start to end as Spurs' long defensive job was ended by the sound of the referee's whistle.
Ahead of the game, Amorim had admitted his job was safe and he was under no pressure to win in Bilbao. He now has a summer to turn around the sinking ship as United limp from defeat to defeat.
For Tottenham, however, their long way for a trophy is over - after Postecoglou came true on his promise of winning in his second season.