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Alejandro Garnacho, a winger for Manchester United, questioned Ruben Amorim’s decision to play him for “20 minutes” in the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham, casting doubt on his future at the club.

Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought was ended by Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal, which ensured United would be without European football for the next season.

Mason Mount was replaced in Bilbao by Garnacho, 20, who had 19 minutes left in normal time before being benched.

The Argentina winger, who was linked with Chelsea and Napoli in January, criticized Amorim’s decision to give him a limited role in the final.

Garnacho said, “Up until the final, I played every round supporting the team, and today I play 20 minutes,” “I don’t know.”

The outcome will affect not just [my decision], but the club’s situation for the entire season. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterward.

Six hours before kick-off, Garnacho discovered that he was starting on the bench and that he was celebrating in the 2024 FA Cup final and 2024 Community Shield. He posted a photo of himself on social media.

His brother, Roberto Garnacho, claimed the winger had been “thrown under the bus” on his Instagram account.

Roberto Garnacho remarked, “Working as no-one else, helping every round, coming from two goals in the final two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 minutes and getting thrown under the bus.”

Following Amorim’s comments following the match, the Portuguese head coach referred to Garnacho’s miss in the semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao.

Amorim questioned whether he ought to have introduced Garnacho earlier, and he responded, “How many times have it happened and it was the opposite?” Some players, like Mason Mount, play Bilbao and alter the game.

It’s now simple to say, then. Who lacked a significant opportunity in the first half against Bilbao? [Garnacho] Yes. Naturally, it’s now simple for us to discuss a lot of points.

After “liking” Dutchman’s social media posts following his Premier League defeat by Bournemouth, Garnacho apologized to then United manager Erik ten Hag last year.

The winger and team-mate Marcus Rashford were both dropped for Amorim’s visit to Manchester City in December due to “training performances, game performances, and team-building engagement.”

Garnacho was one of the United players to leave the club with doubts over his future, with Bruno Fernandes, the team’s captain, suggesting that he might “cash in” on him.

The 30-year-old has been linked with joining Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Portugal’s Fernandes remarked, “I have always been honest.

It’s what it is, if the club decides it’s time to end because they want to do some cashing in or whatever. Sometimes, this is football.

“I’ve always said I’ll stay until the club tells me it’s time to leave.” More needs to be done, in order to restore the club’s former glory.

Garnacho initially appeared to be leaving Manchester United in January, so speculation about the youngster will only grow in the wake of last night’s events in Bilbao.

His axing from United’s starting lineup quickly becomes apparent in his own social media post before the game.

Tensions will only increase if his brother posts something more.

Amorim is evaluated on performance, just like any other manager. We can never predict what would have happened if a different team had started when things don’t go well because selections are made when they don’t go well. It is assumed that the performance would be better, but that is all that is, an assumption.

This season, Garnacho has missed a lot of “big” chances. Garnacho is at least partially to blame when Amorim complains that his team did not score. He is not entirely on his own.

According to my personal opinion, given how many praises he received last season and how frequently he played, his abilities were misassed and his career trajectory was set.

There is no denying that Garnacho has talent. He must work hard on his game to achieve the desired improvements, but he is not finished. I’m not sure whether the social media component is eliciting the appropriate signals.

I can see a summer transfer coming up in the Premier League, given United’s financial situation, Garnacho’s homegrown status, and how that works in the league’s profit and sustainability rules.

After losing in Bilbao, defender Luke Shaw said his team-mates must now beg questions about whether they are capable of playing for the club.

United will not play football in Europe again after the 2014-15 season, for the first time since that defeat.

For a club like Manchester United, the season is “not really good enough,” said England defender Shaw, 29. “It’s hard to put into words, but I think it’s not really good enough for a team like that.”

“I think absolutely me, and I believe we must all be asking ourselves this evening. Are we capable of bringing this together? Because of this club, this season, it’s unacceptable.

The Indiana Pacers won the first game of their NBA Eastern Conference championship series 138-13 after overturning a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Knicks led 69-62 at halftime thanks to Jalen Brunson scoring 41 points.

With two minutes and 51 seconds left, the hosts continued to win.

Before Tyrese Haliburton’s two-point shot on the buzzer made it impossible for Indiana to break the deadlock with six straight three-pointers, five of which were made by Aaron Nesmith.

In overtime, the Pacers won a famous game at Madison Square Garden, and there was still more energy.

We’ve shown it all year, and we’re so proud of the resilience of this group. We’ve had to win in so many different, random, and unique ways, but we just kept fighting, going, and it’s fun, Haliburton said on TNT.

“We had the impression that the opposing team had control of the game.”

It won’t be finished until it’s over, until it’s at zero. That is a truly wonderful victory. However, I think there is still a lot to improve.

When Haliburton attempted a three-pointer in regulation time, Haliburton believed he had won the game, even imitating Hall of Famer Reggie Miller’s infamous “choke” celebration, but replays revealed his toe was on the line and the result only counted for two.

The Pacers have won four straight post-season games without falling 15 points or more behind.

Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Knicks, said, “It’s obvious there’s a disappointment when you fall short.”

All you look at is “We got to be ready for game two,” the statement read. We must now overcome the disappointment with more resolve.

On Saturday, at 1:00 a.m. BST, New York will host the second game of the best-of-seven series.

First leg of Livingston vs. Ross County Scottish Premiership Play-off final

Location: Livingston’s Set Fare Arena Kickoff: 20:00 BST Date: May 22, 2019

In the Scottish Premiership play-off finals, the top-flight team has traditionally had the advantage, but will Ross County travel to Livingston, who is also a championship champion, in Thursday’s first leg?

Which side qualifies as favorite in this?

Cammy Bell, who lost in the Premiership play-off final to Rangers against Motherwell in 2015, says, “At this point in time, I’ve got to say Livingston.”

County, who have lost seven games and drawn two draws since finishing second in the table, four points adrift of Dundee, must be feeling the spirit sapping.

Livingston, in contrast, are advancing to the final after a convincing 4-0 overall win over Partick Thistle after only one point off of Falkirk in the title race.

Livingston are aiming to return to winning ways after being dropped for the first time last season, while the Highland side are aiming to extend their six-year reign.

County can at least feel at peace knowing that the Premiership team has history on their side.

Ten Premiership play-off finals have been held. That upwards leap has only been made by three Championship sides.

However, Livingston, one of those three promoted clubs, has experience. They won the 2018 season, taking Partick Thistle’s place in the top flight.

Oft-discussed is the size of the gap between Premiership and Championship teams.

County’s players have been working hard against a generally higher grade of player all season, and that must be a good thing.

However, Livingston can point to a number of players in their ranks who have accumulated years of rich Premiership experience, including Scott Pittman, Danny Wilson, and Stevie May, who have all done so consistently.

Livingston lost 1-0 at home to St Johnstone in their Scottish Cup quarter-final match back in March when there was recent on-field evidence of matches between the two divisions.

However, it is interesting to note that Livi won the same contest in January against County. In Dingwall, Andrew Shinnie scored the winner in the final minute of extra time, giving the game a 3-2 lead.

Cammy Kerr, a former Dundee captain, is familiar with both the Premiership and Championship.

Livingston, according to the Queen’s Park defender, poses a significant threat to the Premiership side.

According to Kerr, “Livingston have a clear identity.” They attack teams, and this championship team has been much more attacking this year.

It’s a mentality thing for me, I think. Livingston are expanding. The exact opposite exists in Rose County. It does indeed play a role.

County will have hope thanks to Ronan Hale’s 16 goals in all competitions. In their previous two games, the Northern Ireland striker has also scored.

More of a problem is with defense. The Dingwall side last kept a clean sheet on March 1st.

The theme for Livingston has been continuity, with the same eleven starting each of the previous five games.

Could County benefit from having experience with this particular fixture, though?

This will be their third successive Premiership play-off final.

They nearly rose from the dead against Thistle in 2023. With only 20 minutes left in the second-leg, Glasgow’s team was 3-0 overall.

The Staggies regrouped to score three goals before delivering the decisive blow on penalties in one of the greatest comebacks in Scottish football.

County’s 6-1 aggregate defeat of Raith Rovers last season was a much more comfortable experience.

Here in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou backed it all up. Tottenham are Europa League champions. Their 17-year trophy drought is over. Their Champions League status reinstated.

But, for Postecoglou, the euphoria of his team’s historic win against Manchester United means far more.

It means he can puff out his chest and say: “I told you so.”

“I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them,” said Postecoglou in September.

For nine months his critics have been waiting for his now infamous quote to bite him on the backside.

Well, it hasn’t. Postecoglou, against the odds, has delivered on his promise.

He has provided the trophy, in his second season at the club, that Tottenham’s supporters so desperately crave.

“I’m a winner. Win is what I do the most,” said Postecoglou after his side’s victory over Manchester United. “Even when I signed, Daniel [Levy] said ‘we’ve gone after winners and it didn’t work, now we’ve got Ange’. Mate, I’m a winner.”

It begs the question: what next for the Australian?

There remains major doubt over Postecoglou’s future despite this epic night.

In the immediate aftermath of arguably the most significant trophy of his career, Postecoglou hinted that he wanted to stay on as head coach – intimating that he wanted to build on this Europa League success.

His future will be confirmed in the coming days, but amid the jubilation remains clear indications that he will leave Tottenham ahead of next season.

It remains to be seen whether what unfolded here in Spain alters the direction of travel.

But if he does exit, he’ll go out via the front door – not ushered out the back. He’ll go out a winner.

The story of Tottenham’s campaign starts with the visit of one of European football’s emerging Golden Boys.

It is a little known secret that Spurs’ preparations for the 2024-25 campaign started with a visit from Desire Doue.

The young attacker, then of Rennes, was so intrigued by Postecoglou’s project that he dashed across the Channel to make an undercover viewing of the club’s training ground in Enfield amid optimism that a deal for the young attacker was achievable.

Fast-forward nine months and Doue – who signed for Paris St-Germain – is preparing for a Champions League final.

In retrospect, Spurs’ failure to lure the 19-year-old was the sign of what was to come – the start of a series of blows during a truly forgettable domestic season.

It’s important to stress that Spurs’ inability to land Doue certainly wasn’t for the want of trying.

Doue’s reputation has soared while Tottenham and Postecoglou, so often this season, have been left wallowing in despair.

That’s not to say Spurs haven’t spent. Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert and Archie Gray arrived in July – before Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso came in on loan during the winter window.

It was intriguing then that Postecoglou says that once the January window closed that he decided he would focus the team’s attentions on winning the Europa League.

He candidly admitted that his approach was “at odds” with certain people at the club. That was a stark confession and a clear indication of why – despite lifting a trophy – Postecoglou’s future is still under threat.

You need only look at the Premier League table to ascertain how putting all their eggs in the European basket affected Spurs’ domestic form.

Speak to those behind the scenes and they will explain injuries have been the most pertinent factor behind Tottenham’s predicament.

Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario among many others have spent extended spells on the sidelines this season – many of them with muscular issues.

James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Kulusevski were all unavailable in Bilbao. Son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit having only recently returned from injury.

Indeed, multiple sources have told BBC Sport that the club’s crippling injury record has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season.

“It’s been the blame game,” one well-placed source said.

According to sources, Richarlison’s injury-disrupted campaign has proved a bone of contention, particularly in the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having only recently returned from respective hamstring and groin injuries, the Brazil international suffered a subsequent calf injury.

There have been other examples this season where Postecoglou’s team and the medical and fitness department haven’t seen eye-to-eye.

Has Postecoglou pushed players too hard? Or are the strength and conditioning and medical departments at fault? The answers will vary depending on who you speak to.

Interestingly, it is understood there were similar strains during Postecoglou’s reign at Celtic, with medical staff and the manager not always aligned.

It’s pertinent to add that those tensions at Tottenham have eased in recent weeks as the club’s walking wounded returned to availability, while Postecoglou has sought to factor in more days off for his players in recent months – their elimination from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup allowing him extra leeway.

Nevertheless, the sheer number of muscular injuries the club have suffered this season indicates an issue that requires rectifying.

As is normal at the end of the season, Tottenham will review the campaign with a view to making departmental improvements ahead of the next.

With the incoming arrival of Vinai Venkatesham as new CEO, it’s probable that current chief football officer Scott Munn’s position will come under scrutiny at the end of the season.

Tottenham have also held talks with former managing director of football Fabio Paratici over a return to the club following his exit in 2023 after an appeal against a two-and-a-half-year Fifa ban for alleged financial irregularities while at Juventus was rejected by Italy’s highest sports court.

It is also fair to assume the club’s horrendous injury record will be part of the review process.

The upside of the club’s injury issues has been the development of 19-year-olds Bergvall and Archie Gray this season.

Both teenagers were expected to be eased into first-team duty this season – but the pair have made 88 appearances between them so far.

Much has been made of Postecoglou’s attacking approach – or, more pertinently, the accusation that he was unwilling to adapt.

“It’s just who we are, mate,” he famously answered when questioned about his offensive tactics earlier this season.

Some continue to call his apparent refusal to ditch his philosophy as commendable. Others believe his stubbornness is at the root of Tottenham’s difficulties.

Indeed, certain members of the team felt that – during the opening half of the season – they were too open and Postecoglou should have considered making defensive tweaks. The Australian’s apparent reluctance to adapt led to a degree of internal frustration.

While letting a two-goal lead slip in the 3-2 loss at Brighton raised eyebrows, there was similar angst in the 4-3 loss to Chelsea in December after Spurs raced to a 2-0 advantage inside 12 minutes.

Intriguingly, well-placed sources insist Postecoglou did defensively tweak his approach in both games according to the fact his team had taken two-goal advantages.

Furthermore, Postecoglou was widely praised for the way he sturdily set up his team in the Europa League quarter-final second leg win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

They were particularly robust in the comprehensive semi-final victory over Bodo/Glimt, too. And then another European clean-sheet here in Bilbao to finish the job.

Those games represent a clear move away from ‘Ange-Ball’ towards a more cautious approach; the last few weeks of the European season illustrating that Postecoglou has a plan B after all.

In the end, Postecoglou was willing to change. Whether it’s enough to change the course of the exit strategy remains to be seen.

In Postecoglou’s defence, the club’s relentless schedule hasn’t necessarily lent itself to the exploration and embedding of new strategies.

Yet, the club’s poor domestic campaign – and the manner of victory in Frankfurt – does suggest the team may have benefitted from further defensive adjustments throughout the season.

Sentiments towards the manager and his methods vary at all clubs and are dependent on a myriad of variables.

Indeed, it is normal that negativity reigns during a season as bad as Spurs have had. It is also normal for the manager’s mood to fluctuate according to results.

Certain members of the squad have found Postecoglou increasingly distant at junctures this season.

At least two players during the second half of the season have approached alternative training ground staff on matters they would ordinarily go to Postecoglou with.

But by and large those at the club’s Enfield training facility have generally found Postecoglou a likeable character, certainly last season when things were going well.

They found him a refreshing change from the insular and sulky demeanour of Antonio Conte.

Indeed the jubilant scenes here at the Estadio San Mames conveyed an aura of togetherness.

There has been a perpetuated narrative that Postecoglou’s position depended solely on success in the Europa League.

That isn’t strictly true, though the tournament did offer Tottenham a route back into the Champions League and their first trophy since 2008 – and thus an opportunity to grasp what Postecoglou could claim to be a successful season.

But while it is undeniable the Europa League campaign is a factor in determining Postecoglou’s fate, it isn’t the only consideration.

Because it would be negligent of the Tottenham board to completely dismiss the team’s abysmal league campaign that has seen them lose 21 of their 37 games so far.

There is a general feeling at Tottenham the team is performing well below its means. The argument the club have underspent in the transfer market in recent years is hard to contest.

But, by the same token, they did smash their transfer record last summer by signing Solanke from Bournemouth for £65m.

Relationships are key here. Does Daniel Levy believe that the players are still with their beleaguered manager?

Some most certainly are; public comments from Maddison and Van de Ven backing their underfire manager in recent weeks.

The post-match scenes were another indication that Postecoglou’s players are on board.

But it is also true to say that others need convincing.

Another factor at play is Postecoglou’s connection with the club’s supporters.

The Australian put his infamous ear-cupping moment during the defeat by Chelsea down to misinterpretation, insisting he wasn’t goading his own fans after Pape Matar Sarr had just scored a goal – that was eventually disallowed – moments after Spurs followers barracked him for bringing the midfielder on for Bergvall.

Nevertheless, a large section of supporters, certainly prior to victory over Manchester United, had given up on Postecoglou and have been vocal in their disapproval. The club are aware of the discontent. Whether that feeling has shifted after Bilbao remains to be seen.

The merits of a fresh approach – a different set of eyes on the squad – is also a consideration.

Tottenham watched Manchester United retain Erik ten Hag last summer after leading them to the FA Cup only for the Dutchman to be sacked just five months later.

That Tottenham have won one of their previous 11 in the Premier League is damning. Of course, these are vastly unusual circumstances; when does a team 17th in the Premier League lift a European trophy?

How Tottenham would look to replace Postecoglou will depend on who is entrusted with making that decision.

For instance, if Johan Lange, the club’s technical director, has influence over the decision, the chances of Brentford head coach Thomas Frank of replacing Postecoglou could increase.

Lange is believed to be a big admirer of his countryman, who has vast experience of working within the sort of data-driven recruitment ethos that the Tottenham executive is implementing.

If Paratici is to return, he will have his own ideas.

Fulham manager Marco Silva, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner also have admirers at Spurs.

Some supporters yearn for the return of Mauricio Pochettino, but removing the Argentine from his USA contract would cost close to £20m – a fee Spurs would be highly reluctant to pay.

Are those options improvements on Postecoglou? It’s a question Levy will answer soon.

In the weeks, days and hours before Manchester United faced Tottenham in the Europa League final, the messaging from inside Old Trafford was consistent: Win or lose, the club would be sticking with Ruben Amorim.

They hoped they would not be pushed to make that private view public.

But that is exactly what Amorim did with a punchy declaration at the end of his post-match press conference following the 1-0 defeat in Bilbao.

Amorim had begun his post-match assessment with a simple statement: “I am not going to talk about the future.”

But he ended up doing exactly that after being asked what words of comfort he could offer supporters after such a desperate season.

“I have nothing to show to the fans,” he said. “So, in this moment it is a little bit of faith.

“Let’s see. I am always open. If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation.

“But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job. And as you see, I will not change anything in the way I do things.”

The initial reaction from those who matter at Old Trafford when they heard what Amorim had said was simple – the sentiments expressed in the build-up to the game about backing Amorim still stood.

And the belief of those running the club is that they are in tune with supporters who they expect to be singing Amorim’s name even more powerfully on Sunday when they face an Aston Villa side who, unlike them, still harbour hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.

Amorim spoke of United having had “two plans” with which to attack the transfer market this summer.

Well, the most expensive of those can now be thrown in the bin.

There is to be no £100m windfall to ease the pain of a staggeringly bad season. For only the second time since English clubs returned to the European stage in 1990, there will be no continental campaign to plan, no top table combat with which to entice potential targets.

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe was focused on his cost-cutting before, now expenditure will be assessed with even more vigour.

Interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha is high. He would at least bring a history of scoring goals in the Premier League.

Only skipper Bruno Fernandes of the present squad has that and finding a goalscorer has to be a priority after the defeat in Bilbao. For the 15th time this season, or the 11th time in the past 33 games, or the third time in a row – take your pick – United failed to find the net.

“It was clear we were the better team, then we managed not to score again,” said Amorim.

“There were some occasions this season where we didn’t create situations. This was not one of them.

Last week, when Amorim said “we have to be brave”, he meant the whole club.

But what are the specifics?

Rasmus Hojlund has been described as “a Championship player” by someone who was part of the dressing room during Sir Alex Ferguson’s latter days. It is a brutal takedown. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is wrong.

Mason Mount spoke eloquently in the build-up to the game but was anonymous in northern Spain. Amad Diallo threatened but his end product was lacking. There was a huge slice of fortune for Tottenham’s winner. But, once they had the lead, they never truly looked like losing it.

“I am always honest with you guys,” said Amorim. “Tonight, we need to deal with pain of losing this match.”

His first task is Sunday’s meeting with Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and then, after that, two matches in Asia – to generate around £10m in income – which United’s players couldn’t be looking forward to any less.

Leading fan groups threatened to protest around the Villa game well before this latest body blow to club morale.

Amorim must get his players to put on a united front, visually and emotionally.

It was noticeable that as Tottenham celebrated their victory, United’s players, almost to a man, were alone with their thoughts.

Andre Onana sat in his penalty area, Harry Maguire was further upfield, Alejandro Garnacho was inconsolable close to the halfway line.

Amorim was pacing up and down, as he does, looking at the ground.

The backing remains. But for how long?

Amorim has won six games in the Premier League. Half of those victories came against the teams who got relegated.

There are echoes of 2021-22, a campaign they started under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a far healthier state than they are in now.

But because they lost the 2021 Europa League final – on penalties to Villarreal – the Norwegian had no buffer to protect him when results turned in a disastrous five-week spell from the middle of October.

Amorim has decisions to make. Some are tougher than others.

Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen will surely go after Sunday as their contracts expire on 30 June. Garnacho future is the subject of debate. The same is true of Kobbie Mainoo. Bruno Fernandes has been targeted by the Saudi Pro League even if United’s stance is that they have no intention of selling.

But, across the squad, how many would Amorim slap a ‘not for sale’ sign on? Not many, I would wager.

He knows he cannot get rid of 20 players and bring in another 20 more attuned to his preferred style, so he must rely on quite a few of those he needed in Bilbao.