Brennan Johnson's first-half strike secured the victory, leaving United reeling and without European football next season for only the second time in 35 years. The defeat has intensified scrutiny on United's head coach, Ruben Amorim, who insisted he would walk away without compensation if the club's board or fans lost faith in him.

United, languishing in 16th in the Premier League, hoped the final would salvage a dismal season. Instead, Spurs, sitting just one place below them in 17th, capitalized on a scrappy goal to end their 17-year trophy drought. The loss has dealt a severe financial blow to United, with the absence of Champions League football, estimated to be worth around 100 million pounds, set to hamper their summer transfer plans.

Amorim, who took charge in November after Erik ten Hag's sacking, has won only six of his 26 Premier League games. Despite the defeat, he remained defiant, believing his team outperformed Spurs but failed to convert their chances. "We were the better team, but if you don't score goals, you can't win matches," he said after the game. "The guys tried everything to win."

Facing questions about his future, Amorim was candid. "If the board and the fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation," he said. "But I will not quit. I'm confident in my job, and I will not change how I do things."

He acknowledged the fans' frustration, adding, "I have nothing to show to the fans, so in this moment, it is a little bit of faith."

Amorim's team selection raised eyebrows, particularly his decision to start Mason Mount over Alejandro Garnacho, who cut a dejected figure on the bench. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand criticized the move, noting Garnacho's impact after coming on. "Garnacho made a huge difference," Ferdinand said. "I was rattled that Amorim hadn't made substitutions earlier."

Despite the setback, Amorim sees a silver lining in missing European competitions. "It's tough for a club like ours not to be in the Champions League," he said. "But that means we have more time to think and work during the week to be better in the Premier League."

United's focus now shifts to their final league game against Aston Villa, with Amorim urging his players to channel the pain of defeat into improvement. "Tonight, we need to deal with the loss," he said. "The future, we will assess later."

Tottenham's triumph, meanwhile, marked a high point for Ange Postecoglou, who hailed his team's resilience. "We climbed the mountain," he said, reaffirming his commitment to Spurs. For United, the road ahead looks daunting, with Amorim's future at Old Trafford resting on his ability to rebuild a struggling squad.

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