Alan Shearer described Ruben Amorim’s tactics as ‘embarrassing’ after Manchester United were beaten by Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Brennan Johnson’s scruffy first-half goal was enough to end Spurs’ 17-year wait for a trophy and send Ange Postecoglou’s side back into the Champions League.
United were hoping for that outcome themselves following a season in which one of the most successful clubs in the world have slipped to 16th in the Premier League.
But Ruben Amorim’s side produced another deflating performance in the final in Bilbao and rarely threatened to score an equaliser.
Manchester United were reduced to launching long balls and crosses into the direction of Harry Maguire who was thrown up front in the latter stages of the game.
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Shearer said the tactic was an ‘embarrassing’ look for United and said it was now a matter of if rather than when the club return to their glory days.
‘It was a really poor game, the standard was poor, but Tottenham won’t care about that,’ the England legend said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘They’re going to have to recruit very well because clearly a lot of these players are not good enough or not suited to that style of play.
‘Let me tell you something, Man United were an embarrassment tonight – and in the semi-final – they’re chucking a 6ft 5 centre half up top in desperation and are lugging huge balls into the box.
‘That’s how they’re going to get out of trouble? They’re million miles off it on and off the pitch and I don’t know how they get out of this.
‘How do they attract top players this summer and are they even going to be able to pay for them now they’re not in the Champions League? Why would big players want to go there?
‘It’s going to be a while now – if at all – they’re going to be challenging again and players at the club and outside will know that.
‘It’s not only on the pitch either, it’s a mess off the pitch as well. They’ve monumentally messed up this season on and off the pitch, it’s been a complete and utter embarrassment.
‘They’ve spent over £100m on forwards over the last two summers and they send a centre half up front to try and save the game for them. They’re miles off it.’
Speaking after the game, United boss Amorim said he felt his team created enough chances to equalise and at least take the final to extra-time.
‘We suffered a goal but in the second half we were in control of the game we had situations to score,’ he told TNT Sports.
‘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.’
Asked whether he believes he is still the right man for the job, Amorim added: ‘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.’
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