Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed his frustration over his team’s inability to secure a win against Tottenham, stating that they still have “lots of problems” following a nail-biting 2-2 draw. United defender Matthijs de Ligt managed to salvage a point for the away side in the dying moments of the match, after Bryan Mbeumo had given them an early lead with a goal in the 32nd minute.

Despite making several changes in the second half, Tottenham’s manager Thomas Frank faced boos from fans for his decision to substitute Xavi Simons. However, Mathys Tel managed to equalise for Spurs with just six minutes left on the clock, before Richarlison deflected Wilson Odobert’s shot into the net to give Tottenham the lead as stoppage time began. With Benjamin Sesko forced to leave the pitch due to injury, leaving United down to 10 men, it seemed as though Amorim was facing his first defeat since September.

However, De Ligt managed to score from Bruno Fernandes’ corner in the final seconds of the match, extending United’s unbeaten run to five games. Despite this, Amorim insisted that there is still much work to be done.

“We have a lot of problems. We are just in the beginning. I know that sometimes the results show to people that we are improving. We are improving but we have a lot to do,” he said.

He added: “You can divide the game into the final 10 minutes and also when we have to take out Harry Maguire, then suffer two goals and then losing Ben. To overcome everything and manage to score is a good thing.

“If you look at the rest of the game, I think we were comfortable in the game but we should do better. Be more aggressive, feeling the environment in the stadium that the three points were there, the space was there and I think we felt too comfortable during the game.

“We need to expect that in one play anything can happen and change the mood of the stadium. Today was that. I think we control well the game, but we need to do better because the game was there to take.”

Amorim delivered a worrying early update on Sesko, who picked up a knee problem in the closing stages.

He continued: “I am more concerned with the injury because it is in the knee and we need Ben to be a better team.”

The 40-year-old Portuguese boss marked 12 months in charge last week and suggested United must be busy in January, particularly with Noussari Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Mbeumo heading off for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

“Let’s see when the window is open if we can improve the team,” Amorim declared. Tottenham manager Frank came tantalisingly close to securing the emphatic Premier League home triumph his brief spell in charge has desperately needed.

The noise levels in N17 reached fever pitch when Richarlison found the net – following vociferous jeers that accompanied the decision to withdraw Xavi in the 79th minute.

Frank clarified: “Every single time I take a decision to sub a player, it’s with one aim; to make the team win or get back into the game, or try to see the game out.

“It’s with only one aim. To try to win the game. Mathys did well, great goal, great involvement and in general I think Xavi did a fine game. A positive but also you need a bit of freshness. Of course, the emotions inside me are high but I take the positives out of this game.”