Tottenham v Man Utd preview: Two managers under pressure, two clubs underperforming
2025-02-16
Category: sports

An idealistic manager under pressure. An underperforming, injury-hit team closer to the relegation zone than the top four. An increasingly frustrated, protesting fanbase...Mid-table Tottenham and Manchester United meet in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30 GMT), with both clubs fitting that checklist of mediocrity and needing victory to jumpstart some momentum in hugely disappointing seasons.United head to Tottenham 14th in the league, having won 10 and lost eight of head coach Ruben Amorim's 20 matches in charge.Ange Postecoglou's Spurs are 15th, picking up just four points from their past eight league games and being knocked out of both domestic cups.One of Tottenham's rare high points of a difficult season was a comprehensive 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the league, and they also beat United 4-3 in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.Spurs are unbeaten in their past four Premier League games against United (won two, drawn two) and the Red Devils have conceded at least twice in all those games.The build-up to Sunday's game is also expected to include a march and sit-down protest from supporter group Change for Tottenham against the Spurs ownership and chairman Daniel Levy.
'Bigger club, bigger pressure' - what the managers said about each other
Amorim and Postecoglou have been criticised for sticking rigidly to their distinctive footballing philosophies - and so were asked by the media on Friday about each other's struggles.Amorim said he was a "huge fan" of Australian Postecoglou, and had "sympathy" for him "because he is a good guy, a good coach and he wants to play football in the right way".Amorim added: "But, we are not winning games and I understand the connection with me and Ange - we have the same problems."With all due respect, I am at a bigger club, with bigger pressure. It is important for a coach to follow his principles."Postecoglou backed his Manchester United counterpart, who replaced Erik ten Hag this season, saying the club would "absolutely see progress" if they stick with Amorim for "two years"."Manchester United have scouted him and identified him by looking at the way he does business. You bring him in with a purpose," said Postecoglou. "We all get judged on results, I get that. If you are in my position or where Ruben is now, you are going to get scrutiny - but I don't think that means you are not coaching or managing well."All managerial jobs are tough but, that Manchester United one has a bit extra on it, I reckon."
'Results help sort club finances out' - Amorim
It was revealed this week Manchester United are considering a second round of redundancies among staff, potentially more than 100.Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has instigated a series of cost-cutting and revenue-driving measures at the club, including raising the price of some tickets to Â£66.Club officials have repeatedly stressed the measures are being taken to help ensure United do not breach the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), while also providing funds to plough back into Amorim's squad.Amorim acknowledged the responsibility for sorting out club finances also rests with his first team."People are losing their jobs," he said. "I think it is really important for us in the first team, coaches and players, not to ignore that."The biggest problem is the football team. We spend the money. We are not winning and we are not in the Champions League so the revenues are not the same."Now we have to be careful with the finances. We cannot rebuild the team the way we would like."We acknowledge the problem and we have to change that."The first thing we should do is beat Tottenham. That is a small step to try and help these people, to try not to push the ticket prices higher. We are responsible for that."