Manchester United’s Europa League campaign ended in defeat with Tottenham lifting the trophy over in Bilbao.
It was a huge blow for Ruben Amorim as he could be seen on the touchline at the San Mames in Bilbao with a distraught look on his face.
The 40-year-old will know it is a massive missed opportunity to claim silverware, as Tottenham were pretty poor themselves despite claiming the 1-0 victory on the night and hoisting the trophy aloft.
Spurs scored the scrappiest goal Manchester United will have conceded all season, with the attacking players unable to find a way past the defence for an equaliser.
There were several poor performers for United, but Amorim must take part of the blame as he made some disappointing decisions that cost his team dearly.
Here are the five biggest mistakes.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Starting Mason Mount over Alejandro Garnacho
Throughout the 97 minutes played, there was a distinct lack of threat down the left side for United, with Patrick Dorgu struggling with the occasion and Mason Mount, while doing okay, drifting too centrally.
This pairing offered little going forward for United, despite the ball being funnelled to that side time after time.
As Mount failed to impact the game, Amorim turned to Alejandro Garnacho who had an immediate impact, making an excellent argument that he should have started all along. If he had been in from the start, United might not have won, but it would’ve been a lot more dangerous.
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Waiting so long to make substitutions
The second big error made by Amorim, potentially even the biggest, was his hesitation in utilising his bench, despite the strength he had on it.
It took Amorim 71 minutes to make a change to a team that was quite clearly set up wrong from the first minute, and as aforementioned, the addition of Garnacho was a huge positive.
Joshua Zirkzee also offered more than Rasmus Hojlund, but it was the fact that Amorim persisted with the team that was struggling all game for so long that may have played a big part in the defeat.
It certainly did his side no favours, and by the time he made changes, Spurs had set up shop for the night already.
Persisting with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in midfield
Casemiro had been one of United’s best players throughout the Europa League campaign, but his Old Trafford revival came crashing down on Wednesday in the final as he looked off the pace.
This came as no shock, with the Brazilian struggling against Premier League opposition all campaign long, and the final saw it exposed again as his legs had gone. Despite this, Amorim persisted and left Manuel Ugarte and the running he offers on the bench.
Alongside Casemiro was Bruno Fernandes, who had an awful game by his standards, failing to dictate proceedings from deep. Amorim left him in the number eight position, though, instead of pushing him closer to the goal when there were options on the bench.
Not giving Kobbie Mainoo more time
Another midfield-related mistake by Amorim was that he gave Kobbie Mainoo just seven minutes, bringing United’s man of the match from the FA Cup final on in the 90th minute.
Mainoo has a game-changing ability and a knack for scoring in big moments, as seen with his equaliser against Lyon in the quarter-finals. So for Amorim to give him next to no time seems ludicrous.
Mainoo has not had the best season, but he still has that ability in front of goal and a habit of stepping up, which means he should have been on the pitch for much longer.
Starting Luke Shaw
Amorim faced several big selection decisions ahead of the final with one being who starts in the backline.
Harry Maguire was a shoo-in, while it was assumed that if Leny Yoro was fit, he would start, which he did, but on the wrong side.
Yoro had been so good on the left, but in the final, Luke Shaw took this role and had a poor night as he looked sluggish and cost United dearly with his own goal, but also with his poor performance in general.
Shaw might have sealed his fate with this performance, but he never should have started with Victor Lindelof, a better option, and Yoro should have been on the left.