Manchester United’s four worst players in four defeats vs Tottenham won’t be playing this weekend

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Manchester United face Tottenham this weekend looking to right the wrongs of last season.

In the 2024/25 season, Manchester United found a way to lose to Tottenham four different times.

This embarrassing record came with two Premier League defeats, one under Erik ten Hag and one under Ruben Amorim.

Amorim went on to complete an unwanted personal hat-trick with a quarter-final exit in the Carabao Cup, and crucially, the Europa League Final.

Both teams have a fresh look heading into the game this weekend, with Thomas Frank in charge at Spurs, and Ruben Amorim’s new signings helping the Red Devils off to an impressive start after 10 games.

The new signings really are great. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens could all start, and all make a very telling impact.

And on the flip side of United’s new stars, it’s also telling about who won’t be in the line-up to face Tottenham.

Looking back at the four defeats to Spurs in 2024/25, there are four players who had critical roles in the losses who will not be playing this weekend.

Marcus Rashford: Man Utd 0-3 Tottenham

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United suffered a brutal 0-3 home loss at Old Trafford in September 2024, that began to really spell the end for the manager.

Marcus Rashford came in for heavy criticism after Micky van de Ven waltzed through the whole United team.

Gary Neville hit out at the way Rashford ran in the opposite direction to Van de Ven instead of chasing the Dutchman’s run.

Neville told Sky Sports at the time: “Rashford just keeps on running. Rubbish from him.”

Referring to how he lost the ball in the first place, he added: “Rashford, it’s poor. His first touch was heavy and awful. I think he’s got to do better than that. Even if he dives in and gives a foul away.”

Rashford could not win over Ruben Amorim, and is currently on loan at Barcelona for the season.

Altay Bayindir: Tottenham 4-3 Man Utd

Altay Bayindir started in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester United rotating goalkeepers. It was his first start under Ruben Amorim.

Unfortunately it was an awful goalkeeping performance, with Bayindir blamed for conceding straight from a corner kick.

Tottenham had gone 3-0 up, before Amad inspired a fightback to 3-2, before Son’s corner went straight in and gave the home side a crucial fourth goal.

Bayindir will be in the matchday squad, but he is backup to first choice stopper Senne Lammens.

Alejandro Garnacho: Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

An early goal from James Maddison gave Tottenham an advantage they held onto for a 1-0 win in February 2025.

Alejandro Garnacho had Manchester United’s best chance when he was put through on goal by Bruno Fernandes, but blazed his shot over the bar.

Garnacho was in the midst of a three-month goal drought, and his lack of clinical finishing proved to be costly in this game.

United sold Garnacho to Chelsea in the summer, after the forward’s tantrum after the Europa League Final.

Andre Onana: Manchester United 0-1 Tottenham

Manchester United dominated big stretches of the Europa League Final, but could not find a breakthrough after conceding early.

Luke Shaw ended up scoring an own goal when trying to stop Brennan Johnson scoring – with the ball somehow squeezing past Andre Onana at the near post.

The unfortunate goal was one of the several errors Onana made in a Manchester United shirt, and ultimately the most costly.

United’s failure to win the game cost a trophy, and Champions League qualification for 2025/26.

After playing a key role in getting United knocked out of the Carabao Cup this season, Onana was finally axed and sent on loan to Trabzonspor.