Man Utd fans demand Ruben Amorim drops one player immediately after Spurs defeat and picks academy star instead

Manchester United fans have demanded that manager Ruben Amorim drops one first team player immediately after their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

James Maddison scored the only goal of the game in the first half after Andre Onana could only parry Lucas Bergvall's effort to his feet from yards out.

United missed a gilt-edged chance in the first half through Alejandro Garnacho, who fired over from yards out.

There were again criticisms of the tactical shape employed by Amorim and the personnel in certain positions - though his team selection was largely enforced by the absence of several senior players through injury or illness.

In fact, United's bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was entirely made up of academy players, barring centre-back Victor Lindelof.

Ruben Amorim watches on during Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham (Image: Getty)

That meant Casemiro started his first Premier League fixture since December 28, but fans were not impressed by his return to the XI.

Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: "It's sad to say, but I'd rather take an academy kid over Casemiro right now."

Another said: "How is Casemiro still on the pitch? How have we made no subs."

A third wrote: "Casemiro showing exactly why he's not favoured by Amorim."

Casemiro was substituted in injury time and replaced by 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, but the debutant had little time to make an impact on the game - with his first action being to help defend a free-kick.

The Brazilian midfielder has a contract with United until the summer of 2026 and is one of the club's highest earners, having signed a four-year contract when he joined from Real Madrid in 2022.

Casemiro pictured in action against Spurs (Image: Getty)

The 32-year-old had an impressive first season in United's midfield under Erik ten Hag, but his performance level dropped last season.

He was moved to a centre-back role on occasion under Ten Hag last season amid an injury crisis, and was heavily criticised by Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football after a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in May.

"Casemiro, I am being deadly serious, should know himself tonight, as an experienced player, that he should only have another three games at the top level," he began. "And thinking, 'I need to go to the MLS or Saudi'.

"I am nowhere near the level of what that man has achieved, but I always remember something when I retired.

"It was a saying I always remember as a footballer. 'Leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him."