Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim expressed his frustration at his team’s failure to secure a win against Tottenham, saying his team still had “a lot of problems” after a disappointing 2-2 draw. United defender Matthijs de Ligt managed to salvage a point for the visitors in the dying minutes after Brian Mbeumo gave them an early lead with a goal in the 32nd minute.
Despite making several changes in the second half, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was booed by fans after he decided to substitute Xavi Simmons. However, Matthijs Tell managed to equalize for Spurs with six minutes remaining, and Richarlison deflected Wilson Odbert’s shot into the net, giving Tottenham the lead as stoppage time began. Amorim looked to be facing their first defeat since September as Benjamin Sesco was forced off the pitch with an injury, leaving United down to 10 men.
However, De Ligt scored from a Bruno Fernandes corner in the final minute, extending United’s unbeaten run to five games. Nevertheless, Amorim insisted there is still much work to be done.
“We have a lot of problems. We are just getting started. I know the results can show people that we are improving. We are improving, but there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
He added: “You can split the game into the last 10 minutes and then we beat Harry Maguire and then we conceded two goals and lost Ben. It’s good that we managed to get through everything and score.”
“If you look at the rest of the game, I think we were comfortable, but we need to be better. We were more aggressive, the three points were there, we felt the environment in the stadium, there was space, and I think we were too comfortable during the game.”
“You have to expect that one play can make something happen and change the atmosphere in the stadium. That was the case today. I think we controlled the game well, but the game was to win, so we need to do better.”
Amorim gave an early worrying update on Sesco, who suffered a knee problem in the closing stages.
He added: “I’m more worried about the injury. It’s a knee injury so Ben needs to be a better team.”
The 40-year-old Portuguese manager last week marked his 12th month in charge and suggested United will be busy in January, particularly as Nossali Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Mbeumo head off on African Cup of Nations duties.
“Let’s see if we can improve the team when the window opens,” Amorim declared. Tottenham manager Frank has come tantalizingly close to clinching the Premier League home victory he so desperately craves in his short spell.
The noise level in the N17 reached its peak in the 79th minute when Richarlison found the back of the net after receiving loud jeers following Xavi’s sending off.
Frank declared, “Every time I make a decision to substitute a player, it’s for one purpose: to help the team win, to get them back in the game, or to finish the game.”
“There is only one objective: to win the game. Matthij did well, it was a great goal, great involvement and overall I think Xavi played a great game. It’s positive, but we also need a bit of freshness. Of course, emotions are running high in me, but I’m taking the positives from this game.”
