Ruben Amorim ready for Tottenham Hotspur approach against Manchester United in UEFA Europa League final - 'They will not change'
Published 15/05/2025 at 17:00 GMT+1
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have their sights on silverware and qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League when they meet in the UEFA Europa League final on May 21. It will be the fourth time United and Spurs have met this season, and United boss Ruben Amorim has given his view on how the familiarity might impact the game and how the final might be decided.
‘They will not change’ – Amorim ‘understands’ Tottenham’s ‘strong identity’
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says he knows what to expect from Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final and which area of the game could be "key".
United have faced Spurs three times this season, twice in the league and once in the Carabao Cup.
Spurs emerged victorious on each occasion, winning the two league matches by a 4-0 aggregate scoreline and triumphing 4-3 in the cup.
The stakes will be even higher when the two sides meet for a fourth time in the Europa League final, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Wednesday, May 21, with the winners not only lifting silverware but also qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Asked about the prospect of facing such a familiar opponent in the final, Amorim told TNT Sports: "One of the things that is good about facing Tottenham is they are really good, but you can understand what they are going to do, because they have such a strong identity they will not change.
"For example, Manchester United under Jose Mourinho [in the 2017 Europa League] they changed the way they played all the time because of the opponents.
"We have an idea how they are going to press, they have an idea how we are going to build up. It’s going to be a tough match for both teams."
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On whether he will be changing his team's approach, Amorim said: "I always look at the opponent to see where the space is, but we have an identity.
"In that way, for me, it’s easier for our players to understand, but of course if they defend with four or five, we change completely and play with wing-backs, for example. I think I am changing all the time."
United and Tottenham have both struggled in the Premier League this season, saving their best for the Europa League.
But can United turn the tables on Spurs after losing to them three times already this campaign?
"Set pieces are going to be a key point," Amorim said about the match-up.
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"They are really strong on that because they win a lot of corners so that is a key point."
Amorim has said he is "embarrassed" by United’s league form this season as they have lost 17 matches, their most in a league campaign since 1973/74 (20).
But despite their struggles, Amorim, who was appointed in November following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, says United remains a big club.
"It’s easier for us in other countries to understand how big Manchester United is," he said.
"Sometimes people here forget about that, but when you come from abroad you understand this is Manchester United.
"No matter the context, you feel the history and that’s why this club will always be a top club because of the past and everything around it."
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Watch the UEFA Europa League final live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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