“Baby Coach” or Just Growing Pains? Pep Guardiola’s Alleged Message to Ruben Amorim After Europa League Final Loss
Manchester United’s Europa League campaign ended in heartbreak as they fell 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the final at San Mamés. The decisive goal came in the 42nd minute when a cross from Pape Matar Sarr deflected off Luke Shaw, resulting in an own goal credited to Brennan Johnson . Despite United’s efforts, they couldn’t find an equalizer, marking Tottenham’s first major trophy since 2008.
In the aftermath, reports surfaced of a pointed remark allegedly made by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola towards United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim:
> “Ruben Amorim is a baby coach after what he did today against Tottenham. I warned him about this particular player, but he turned deaf ears to me. Well, you can see the results now.”
While the authenticity of this quote remains unverified, it has sparked discussions about Amorim’s decisions during the match.
Amorim’s tenure at United has been challenging. Since taking over in November, the team has struggled in the Premier League, finishing 16th, their lowest position in decades . Injuries plagued the squad, with key players like Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo sidelined . Despite these setbacks, Amorim led United to the Europa League final, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise difficult season.
Critics have questioned Amorim’s tactical choices, particularly his adherence to a 3-4-3 formation, which some analysts believe doesn’t suit the current squad . Stephen Warnock noted that the system made it difficult for United to break down defenses and create scoring opportunities.
In his post-match comments, Amorim acknowledged the challenges faced:
> “We have so many problems. Even winning these kinds of games, you can see during the game, we have a lot of things to improve.”
Despite the loss, Amorim remains committed to his philosophy, emphasizing the need to focus on immediate improvements rather than long-term projections .
As United reflects on a season of highs and lows, the path forward under Amorim’s leadership will be closely watched. Whether the “baby coach” label sticks or becomes a footnote in his development remains to be seen.