Manchester United “were the better team” in Tottenham defeat, says Amorim

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said his side were the better team in Thursday’s 4-3 defeat by Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, but said they were let down by a more clinical performance from the hosts.

United went 3-0 down shortly after the break but scored twice in seven minutes to breathe life into the game and kept the pressure on even after Son Heung-min scored a fourth for the home side.

Jonny Evans’ header threatened to force extra-time but Spurs held on to win through to the semi-finals.

“We (disconnected) at the beginning of the second half, it was a difficult time for us, like 10 minutes. And then we (came back), I think we did a great job,” Amorim told Sky Sports.

“I think if you look at the whole game, I think we were the better team but they were more clinical. We (lost) the game, but the fight of the boys was very important to me.

“Overall, it was a good game, but there is no taste. We didn’t win, we have to focus on the next game.”

Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November, said 13th-placed United still had a long way to go before they could challenge for the Premier League title.

“We are improving as a team… our goal is to win the Premier League. How long will it take? I don’t know, but that is our goal,” he added.

United host sixth-placed Bournemouth on Sunday.