Man Utd and Tottenham struggling but are Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou right to stick to their philosophies?

19 January 2025, 21:18 | Updated: 20 January 2025, 12:51

Adapt or die? Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou seem intent to fall on their sword rather than alter their approaches in the face of adversity.

"I'm not going to change the way I see the game. I'm very clear on that," said Amorim, after his Man Utd side lost 3-1 at home to Brighton on Sunday, slumping to a sixth Premier League defeat of the season at Old Trafford.

He is determined to make the 3-4-2-1 structure which delivered him so much success at Sporting work - no matter what it takes.

"The players are going to suffer, I'm sorry, the fans are going to suffer," he continued. "I have one way of doing things, I know it's going to [bring] results."

• Amorim: We are the worst team in the history of Man Utd

At the same time, a depleted Tottenham were digesting a 3-2 loss at Everton, which had seen them concede three times in the first half to the Premier League's second-worst attack.

Postecoglou has flexibility on formations - he started with a back three at Goodison Park before throwing it out of the window at half-time. But the front-foot approach, with the ball or without it, is non-negotiable.

Even if it leads to Iliman Ndiaye running away from Archie Gray and past Radu Dragusin to score. Or Arsenal pinning Spurs back in their defensive third as they repeatedly try and fail to play through their rivals' press, as happened in midweek.

• Ange determined to turn Spurs around after 'unacceptable' Everton loss

Amorim will point to his remarkable record as a two-time title winner at Sporting in Portugal, which earned him his move to United, as evidence of why he should stand by his idea.

Similarly, Postecoglou has pointed out you don't make it from Australia to the Premier League without a clear philosophy.

Before he had taken charge of a match in England's top flight, he said he would not alter his approach, regardless of the situation. Even if Spurs were hanging onto a 1-0 lead late on in a crucial game. He has been unwavering in that ever since, despite injuries currently accounting for 80 per cent of his first-choice defence.

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