After a 1-0 defeat, Ruben Amorim offered to leave the club without compensation if the board or fans no longer want him, emphasising he shares their pain but believes his team was the better side.
Luke Shaw, in an emotional interview, apologised to supporters for the team’s “unacceptable” season, admitting players let Amorim down and suggesting some should question their futures at the club.
Despite the criticism, Shaw backed Amorim as the right manager, a sentiment echoed by some fans and analysts.
Additionally, Alejandro Garnacho criticised Amorim’s decision to drop him for the final, hinting at tensions.
“If the board and the fans feel that I’m not the right guy, I will go the next day.”#UELfinal #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/A2SL73PMwj
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2025
Ruben Amorim says he’ll leave Man Utd if the board and the fans don’t think he’s the right man for the job, but has ruled out quitting.#UELfinal #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/nZtLqHOrES
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 21, 2025
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim speaking in his post match press conference: “I only have to share the pain of our fans, they deserve better. We tried everything. About the future we will see what we are going to do.”
On impact of no Champions League football: “We have two plans, even for the market. We have to understand that it is tough for a club like us not to be in the Champions League but now we have to do the other side. If we have more time, we have more time to think and work during the week and to be better in the Premier League. This will be our focus.”
On the future: “I was always really honest with you guys. We did not perform well today but we were better than the opponent. In the second half we tried everything with the centre defenders players wide, crosses, going inside the box.
“I think today was not the day. We were not perfect, we have a lot to improve but I am always honest with you guys.”
Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: “We suffered a goal. In the second half we were in control of the game we had situations to score. I think we started quite well for the first five or seven minutes but then lost a bit of control of the game. We then suffered a goal but then the rest of the game we had clear chances to score.
“We started the second half quite well so change just for people to see that I change something is not my way of doing things. When I felt we needed a different player I put on a different player.”
On if he believes he’s still the right man for the job: “I am confident I am still the guy, more than in the beginning. I know the patience of the fans will be really short in the next season but I guarantee you I will not quit and I will not go away. I am really confident.
“I know the club, I know what it means to coach this club and I understand what this team needs. If they say it is better to change I will leave in the next day.
“I am really confident in myself to continue to do the job if the board wants me.”
On being further from Champions League than when he started: “We have to see. In this moment I am not going to be here defending myself. It is not my style. I am not going to do it. I am not going to come and say ‘I am going to improve us because of this’ or ‘I have these problems’. I will not do that. In this moment it is a little bit of faith. Let’s see.
“Like I said before I am always honest. I am always open. If the board and the fans feel like I am not the right guy then I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit. Again I am really confident in my job and as you can see I will not change nothing in the way I do things.”
On what areas he has improved in the team since he arrived: “In some moments I don’t agree with that [he’s taken them backwards]. We had some bad results, I think we improved in certain areas. We had some games where we did not score in the small details.
“I remember a lot of games, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, City at home, where we created more chances but did not score and we lost some games. it is a different way of playing, I try to put the players the best I can to try to help them. I was hard on the players.
“I am a young guy but I understand that we created a lot of chances in the second half and if we score one then our press conference will be so much different. I have nothing to show the fans. But again I will continue to do the things the way I know.”
“It’s been nowhere near good enough.” 🗣
Luke Shaw has said sorry to #ManUtd fans following their Europa League final defeat at the hands of Tottenham. #UELFinal pic.twitter.com/tXj344dCOB
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 22, 2025
“It’s hard to put into words the season, but I think for a club like Manchester United, it’s not really good enough,”
“I think definitely me and I think all of us have to question ourselves tonight. Are we good enough to be here? Because this club, this season, it’s not acceptable.
“We know that and it’s down to us. I think we have to look at ourselves. Something has to change.”
🚨💣 Garnacho: “Until the final, I played every round helping the team… then the final arrives and I play 20 minutes?! I don’t know”.
“The final, the season, the whole situation of the club… I will try to enjoy the summer and then we will see what happens”. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ELMvHLOHfm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2025
🚨📸 | Alejandro Garnacho’s brother via Instagram! 😮 pic.twitter.com/kMkEbXWR4p
— (fan) Frank 🧠🇵🇹 (@AmorimEra_) May 21, 2025
📲 Garnacho’s partner Eva via Instagram!
“You have to know how to win but also lose. Wish everyone could see the effort and sacrifice behind it. We will always be infinitely proud of you ❤️”. pic.twitter.com/6hiAoqhmui
— UtdTruthful (@Utdtruthful) May 21, 2025
See more post interviews with the players and managers…
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports, said: “I’m still taking it all in. I know what it means for this football club. The longer it goes, the harder it is to break that cycle.
“I could sense the nerves in everyone at the club and until you take that monkey off your back you never understand what it feels like. We have a young group and I hope by tasting this, the players feel different about themselves and what it means to them is unbelievable.
“I’ve always felt knockout football is different to league football and when you’re in that situation it comes down to good organisation, having a real gameplan and moments and you can minimise moments by having a strong foundation.
“I felt we were going to be really hard to break down. We could’ve been better in transitions but I felt comfortable that if we got ahead we could deal with most of what Manchester United would throw at us.”
On his quote in September of “I always win things in my second season,” “People misinterpreted me. It was not me boasting, just me making a declaration and I believed it. I had this thing inside me more than anything else.
“I know our league form has been unacceptable, but coming third was not going to change this football club, winning a trophy would, that was my ambition and I was prepared to wear it if it did not happen. People kept reminding me of it because we were getting closer but I’m happy with that.
“It’s how the club perceives itself. Being at the club for the last few years and the history, people are quick to take shots at the club and the club at times has not defended itself as strongly as it should.
“There’s no reason why the club can’t go into next year and believe they can win again next season. The great clubs expect success and I hope this taste of it takes the club forwards.”
“I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this, whatever happens, happens.
“We’re still building this team. It’s a young team, we need to add experience and now we are in the Champions League. I’ve been trying to build a team that can be challenging for the next four or five years.
“I’m the manager of the football club, that decision is not in my hands. All I know is having this around my neck [the medal] means we have won a trophy. I don’t feel I have completed the job. We’re still building.
“Since I came here I had the belief of trying to win something and we have done that and I want to build on it.”
Speaking in his post-match press conference: “It is hard to put into words all of the emotions. I’m super proud of the players. To quote my favourite Australian prime minister Paul Keating, he said: ‘After an unlikely victory, this is one for the true believers,’ and this is certainly one for the believers. The group of players that never waivered, never lost faith in me and what we were doing. An unbelievable football staff led by brilliant coaches. People who work at the club from board down. Everyone at the training ground.
“The supporters. I know everyone thinks I’ve got a fractious relationship but every fan I ever bumped into was just so kind, reassuring me, they believed in what I was doing. I understand the disappointment we have put them through this year, particularly in the league, but just seeing them tonight, the impact it has on some of them… Some of them have never had a night like this. It is a reward for them.
“Finally to my beautiful wife, my boys, family and friends, they are all my inspiration. I am the front man, it is easy for my to take on the responsibility, they’ve got no choice but to come along for the ride. But seeing them all out there on the pitch, smiling faces, I couldn’t be happier.”
On if this is his biggest achievement: “I feel if I say that it diminishes, not for me, the other achievements, but for the people I shared them with. It’s definitely been the toughest thing I have ever done, without a shadow of a doubt. And I knew that it would be going into it. This club has had some unbelievable world class coaches and players and they have not had a night light this, so I knew what I was taking on.
“It is fair to say that it has been really challenging because wherever else I have had success by this stage I have kind of had the faith and trust of everybody, and here it has been different. That’s not a criticism, I understand that is because of the club and its recent history, I don’t think they could always go in on one person. But for me that is always how it has worked well for me when people have backed my vision,
“Within that, when we got to the end of January, the end of the transfer window, I just made a decision there and then that this was the trophy that we were going to go for. It was probably at odds with what other people at the time thought we should do but I just really believed that we could win this.
“Since then every training and decision, everything we have done in terms of games, it was all about making sure when these games have come around we are in the best place possible. That has come at a cost in the league and I have to take responsibility for that. I juts felt like the end game of winning something was more important and it was the only way I was going to do it.”
On how hungry he is to continue with the team: “Very. We’ve got a really young group of players. You can talk to them about success and what it means but until they feel it, it doesn’t become real. I’ve got no doubt that all those boys tonight having this feeling they will want it again. To get it again they will need to make similar sacrifices. They have climbed the mountain now and know what it takes to get to where we are. I think that accelerates the opportunities to build a team and make it successful and make it competitive at the highest level for years to come.
“I think there is still a lot of work to be done, that’s obvious, but not as much work as people may think. People may bang on about the 20 league defeats but they are missing the point of what we are trying to build here. I really feel that tonight can be a great platform for us to kick on.”
On getting the players to buy into the different style: “Knockout football is always different. All my teams have always played a bit different in knockout games because you know that you have to have a real clear game plan. Big games come down to moments, you have to limit the moments of the opposition and change the moments.
“The players embraced it because that was always going to be the approach in Europe. It was the approach in the Carabao Cup and we beat some decent teams, including Man City, United, beat Liverpool in the first leg and played in a similar way.
“It also helps to have Romero, Vicario, van de Ven, Udogie and Porro, guys like that available and that was part of the mindset to make sure they were available for the big games. The guys were really efficient in the knockout games, knew what we wanted to do and got their just rewards.
On what his Dad would make of the win and what people in Australia would think: “He is still with me mate. His voice is in my head all the time and as I get older and look in the mirror I see his face sometimes, which is a bit scary. My dear mum is in Greece, my sister, nephews, I’m sure they are over the moon. It is massive in Australia and in Greece, I’ve got family and friends in both countries and they have been there every step of the way.”
On how a club lets a manager go after this win: “I’m pretty relaxed. Well not relaxed but I’d be pretty disappointed if I can’t continue on this path. It is not a criticism. I understand why it would be difficult for a club like this to buy into one person’s vision.
“Even when I signed Daniel [Levy] said ‘we’ve gone after winners and it didn’t work, now we’ve got Ange’. Mate I’m a winner. I’ve been a serial winner my whole career. It is what I have done more than anything else. People talk about my football, which I am very proud of, I know people dismiss my achievements because they did not happen on this side of the world but for me they were all hard earned. All I have done my whole career is win things.
“The way things have gone in the league people are rightly concerned about. I don’t think it’s a true reflection of where we are at. Whatever happens I have said my own belief in what I do doesn’t waver and I continue to go on and do what I do.
“Huge relief. This was maybe our 59th or 60th game this year that means I’ve been in front of you guys 150 or 160 times, I have been a spokesperson for the club this year. I know everything I say is important. Fair to say I don’t always get it right. That responsibility weighs on your shoulders.”
Any discussions on future? “No planned meetings. No discussions. I haven’t spoken to anyone about anything. Look what I do know is I’m going back to my hotel room, I’m going to gather my family and friends, open a nice bottle of scotch, then get ready for a massive parade on Friday. Then last game against Brighton and we want to finish strong. Then Monday I’m going on holiday with my beautiful family because I deserve it. Que sera, sera.”
Tottenham boss Micky van de Ven, speaking to TNT Sports: “We always believed in this squad. Everyone kept believing even if we had a tough season.”
On his goalline clearance: “I saw the ball come in. I had to go to the goal and I wondered how I would do this but I just cleared it. My back, the ground over there is not soft!
“Unbelievable feeling. It was a tough season for myself also with injury.”
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, speaking to TNT Sports: “It is unbelievable. We have written history, this group of players has written history.
“There was also one Micky van de Ven save. On the line. We knew before the game we needed the help from everyone and we did it. Now we celebrate.”
Tottenham goalscorer Brennan Johnson, speaking to TNT Sports said: “I’m so happy right now. This season has not been good at all, not one of us players care about that now. This club has not won a trophy for 17 years, it means so much.
“All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning a trophy. We had to get the first one, I’m so happy. Ever since I came here it has been ‘Tottenham, good team but can’t get it done’, but we got it done.
“I knew I touched it a bit [for the goal], but not clean, then I looked up and the ball was trickling in the goal.
“[In the last five minutes] I couldn’t watch. I was just asking ‘how long left?’ When we defended that corner, I was getting told it was done and the relief is something I can’t describe.
“Tottenham Hotspur being 17th in the Premier League is not good enough. We had an unbelievable Europa run. The fans have been so good, home and away and they had the edge over the United fans. They were all here an hour before the game, they got us through the game.”
“He has done his job. He said he wins in the second year and he has, if there’s ever a time for a mic drop, it’s now [when he speaks to the media].
“I can’t thank the manager enough for how much trust he has in us and he has a really good way of getting us up for it.”
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, speaking to TNT Sports: “Let’s say I’m a legend. why not? Only today!
“17 years nobody has done it, so today let’s say with amazing players probably a legend of the club.
“This is what I’ve always dreamed for. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world.
“When you look at the whole season there will always be some situation you have a tough time but we as players always stuck together.
“I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly. The last seven days I was dreaming about this game every night. It finally happened and I can sleep easy now!
“We can celebrate today so let’s just make it one we will never forget and maybe I will miss the flight tomorrow!”
Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports, on captain Son Heung-min winning his first trophy with the club.
“We’ve had some unbelievable footballers, Harry [Kane] is an example, that has not had a moment like this here,” said Postecoglou. “I wanted a day like this for Sonny and for one reason or not it has not happened before.
“Outside the dressing room [at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium], there are pictures of winning teams and I said to Sonny ‘we have to get you up there’.
“I think there’s an opportunity here, that’s my belief, and we can build on this. These players in there want it again. Until you feel it and win something you can’t describe it to people so now they have got that, they will want to get this feeling again.”
