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Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United may not seem like a seismic moment on paper. Both teams have endured a difficult season, with Spurs sitting in 12th place and United in 15th following their clash against each other in North London.

However, James Maddison’s early goal that clinched the win highlighted sharp contrasts between these struggling clubs—contrasts that suggest their trajectories could soon diverge. While Spurs appear to be on the brink of a revival, Manchester United’s miserable campaign seems destined to lumber on until the bitter end.

A Season of Struggles 

This 2024/25 Premier League season has been one of disappointment for both Tottenham and United. Spurs began the year with optimism under Ange Postecoglou, especially after the maverick Aussie led them to the brink of Champions League qualification. However, a never-ending train of injuries derailed their progress and threatened to dump them into a relegation dogfight. 

At one point, the North London side had 15 senior players out injured and were regularly fielding a substitutes bench of teenagers in order to just make up a team. However, a number of their key stars have now returned, and the win over United marked the first time Spurs had won back-to-back games since September. 

On the other hand, Manchester United’s season has been cursed by inconsistency and striking inefficiency up front. New manager Ruben Amorim arrived after Erik Ten Hag’s reign turned toxic in spite of high hopes, but Amorim has failed to steady the ship since his arrival. Now, he, too, has a squad decimated with injuries, and the Red Devils have increasingly relied on unproven academy players to fill key roles.

Spurs’ Signs of Revival

Tottenham’s narrow win highlighted the importance of returning stars. James Maddison’s flawless finish early on and his overall influence on the game showed just what his team has been missing since he began his stint on the treatment table over a month ago. The former Leicester man’s return from a calf injury couldn’t have gone any better, and it was he who capitalized on a rebound to seal the contest within 13 minutes. With other players like goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and tenacious midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur also back in action, Spurs’ squad is beginning to resemble its earlier, healthier self.

This was Spurs’ first home league win in over three months and their first consecutive clean sheets in 16 months, further proof that the worst may be behind them. While their attacking movements lacked fluency at times—new signing Mathys Tel struggled to impress—the grit with which they defended as United pushed for an equalizer will instill belief both in the dressing room and among a fanbase frustrated by months of ridicule. Postecoglou’s assertion that this could be a “massive opportunity in the back half of the year” now seems less like hollow optimism and more like a realistic ambition.

With 13 league games left and players gradually returning to full fitness, Tottenham are now well-positioned for a late-season charge up the table. However, online sports gambling sites feel European qualification may be too far out of reach. The latest odds from the popular Bovada sports gambling site still make Spurs a +430 outsider to finish in the top half, and they will need to gain at least a seventh-place finish to secure continental football next year. But even so, positive results between now and May could keep Big Ange in a job, and that is all he will currently be focused on. Let’s see if the bookies are proved right as the matches continue to unfold!

United’s Seemingly Endless Woes

While things appear to be looking up for Tottenham, Manchester United’s struggles seem firmly entrenched. Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford has been riddled with poor performances on the pitch and growing frustration off it. His tactics and team selection have frequently been called into question, and Sunday’s loss further exposed the fragility of his squad.

United started the match brightly, creating early chances through Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund, but failed to find the net. Garnacho, their most dangerous attacker by far, squandered a golden opportunity in the first half when unmarked, and in space, he blasted his shot over the bar. While the 20-year-old shows immense potential, the fact one of the world’s biggest football clubs is relying so heavily on such an inexperienced player underscores their current predicament.

Compounding United’s miseries is their extensive injury list. Amad Diallo had emerged as a crucial weapon throughout the season, with his last-gasp win away at Manchester City the highlight of the campaign. However, he has recently been crocked with an injury, and he joins Kobbie Mainoo in the list of precious young talents that remain unavailable for selection. Add to that the fact that Amorim was forced to part ways with superstar Marcus Rashford following a perceived lack of work ethic from the England international, and United’s options up top are limited, to say the least. 

Their bench against Tottenham was also telling, with nine of the substitutes aged 19 or under and with zero Premier League minutes between them. While the club prides itself on developing young talent, this reliance on academy players reveals how limited the senior squad has become. 

Amorim clearly has a style of play in mind, but his players are quite simply not good enough to carry out the tasks required of them. With the Portuguese boss unwilling to compromise on his style of play, things could get worse before they get better. Expect United to drop further results before Amorim has the chance to bring in his own set of players in the summer… if he is still at the club by then.