Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo responds to fans booing off team after Man Utd loss

Posted Sunday, October 31, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Tottenham were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United and the performance from the home side will raise concerns over the long-term future of Nuno Espirito Santo...

Nuno Espirito Santo has urged Tottenham fans to stick with the team in a heartfelt apology to supporters after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United. His side delivered, without doubt, their worst performance of the season and the display raised alarms amongst the supporters in the stadium, who made their feelings known throughout the game and when Nuno took Lucas Moura off the field.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with an emphatic volley as he met Bruno Fernandes' lofted pass with aplomb for fire past Hugo Lloris.

The lead was then doubled in the second half when Ronaldo teed up new strike partner Edinson Cavani, who clipped over Hugo Lloris and into the net.

Things got even worse for Spurs though, who failed to show any form of fight to get back into the game, as Marcus Rashford race through on goal and finished comfortably.

Supporters appeared to turn on Nuno though in the second half when he withdrewMoura and replaced the winger with Steven Bergwijn.

"We want Nuno out," bellowed out from the stands, as the Tottenham boss cut a dejected figure on the sidelines.

But Nuno has now explained the substitution and asked Spurs fans to continue supporting the team during another difficult spell.

Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo responds to fans booing off team after Man Utd loss
Nuno is under increasing pressure after Tottenham's 3-0 defeat to Man Utd (Image: GETTY)

"We tried to get one versus one with Stevie [Bergwijn] as opposed to too many combinations inside," he said.

"We are not on the right track and we totally understand the criticism, it's part of football.

"When the team does not perform, the fans suffer, the fans are not happy.

"They showed they're not happy, it's up to us to take it, to tell them we tried our best.

"We are sorry because it's not the performance we wanted and in a humble way, ask them to support us all the way."

Spurs now turn attention to the Europa Conference League before facing Everton next Sunday in the Premier League.

Nuno added: "It was a poor performance, bad performance. Not too many words, we didn't play good, Man United were stronger than us.

"We struggled to break them, they had three centre-halves and it was difficult.

Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo responds to fans booing off team after Man Utd loss
Tottenham fans were not happy to see Lucas Moura taken off (Image: GETTY)

"We had a good chance in the beginning but not enough.

"We could not find the lines, the combinations, the support when we go line. It was a bit better in the second half and the finish and last pass was never there.

"Trying, supporting the players and finding solutions. Working on the training ground.

"There's no other way, we have to work harder."