Ruben Amorim has launched a staunch defence of his decision to hand Chido Obi just three minutes from the bench in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday. Frustrated Red Devils supporters have blasted Amorim for overlooking his substitutes while chasing a goal in the Premier League clash.

The Portuguese head coach’s bench had an average age of 19.3 due to a barrage of injury and illness problems over the past week.

He has lost Amad for the rest of the season and Kobbie Mainoo for weeks after training injuries in the build-up to the trip to Spurs.

Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer picked other less serious problems that ruled them out of Sunday’s game, while Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen were absent through illness.

With 12 senior players unavailable, Amorim named a bench of Elyh Harrison, Harry Amass, Ayden Heaven, Tyler Fredricson, Victor Lindelof, Jack Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Jack Moorhouse and Obi.

However, fans grew increasingly disgruntled as the clock ticked out while he retained trust in his 11 starters to respond to James Maddison’s first-half opener.

Amorim eventually withdrew Casemiro for Obi in the 91st minute, which sparked outrage, considering there were only three minutes of added time.

@AcademyScoop posted on X: “I’m really disappointed in Amorim today, that was pathetic.

“You’ve got a bench full of academy players, some of which are genuinely ready to come on and make an impact, but you ignore them for 90 minutes while your team are a goal behind. Three minutes for Obi is an insult.”

@chelmufc wrote: “Cowardly from Amorim – what is the f**king point of bringing Obi on for two minutes – subs should have been made a lot earlier, kids or not.”

@TacticoAnalyst added: “Absolutely disgusting from Amorim. How can you put Chido Obi for three mins and expect to do something are you f**king stupid?? Why did you leave the subs so f**king late???”

After full-time, Amorim explained his reserved approach, insisting he didn’t want to disrupt the visitors’ momentum as they took control of the late proceedings.

“It is the hardest competition in the world. I am trying to be careful with them. I felt the team was pushing for the goal, and I felt I didn’t want to change. But they will play,” Amorim told BBC Match of the Day.

“You try to read the game and understand what you see in training. The team were pushing for the goal, and I didn’t feel the need to change. I am not worried. I understand our fans and what the media think about it.

“I hate to lose. That feeling is the worst. The rest I am not thinking about. I am here to help my players. I understand my situation, my job, I am confident in my work, and I just want to win games.”

In his Sky Sports interview, he confirmed that more opportunities were on the horizon for the academy players on the brink of first-team football.

“They will play during this season. We will have games in the cup and Europe, and they will play. I feel it,” Amorim assured.

“I think everybody can feel it: we are near the goal, and I don’t want to change the players when we are near it. You grow, and you learn a lot of things. We just need to face it and not run away. That is my feeling.

“Today will hurt. It is a tough pain to lose so many games, but then you can change things in a week.”