New Delhi: Ruben Amorim’s first game as Manchester United ended in a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town after spending only a few days with the squad in its entirety after the international break. Reacting to the side’s performance, Amorim noted that it would take a while for the team to return to its glory days.
While fans of the club expected Amorim to immediately turn around, the 39-year-old has said that his new ideas will take a while to come in effect. Amorim felt that the team struggled yesterday to meet the demands of his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, making it more complex than needed.
🚨 Rúben Amorim: “This week I spoke more to the media than I did in four years at Sporting. I just want to work with my players. Nothing more”.
“My players were thinking too much in the game. You could feel it”. pic.twitter.com/ExLs1CwKqb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 24, 2024
While Amorim was reassured that they would try to win as many games as possible, the side faced problems that needed to be addressed first. United had started well, with Marcus Rashford scoring in two minutes from kick-off, only for Omari Hutchinson to equalize right before the break. Ipswich kept creating more chances during the game but Andre Onana made some great saves to keep the score at 1-1 in Portman Road.
Positives from Amorim’s first game
Amorim’s attitude is in contrast to his predecessor’s. He has said the team will need to risk in order to improve by next year. Many would see United’s performance as unchanged from Erik ten Hag’s tenure. Despite starting the game at a fast pace, they were soon back to their old playing design. However, a big difference this time was that they were creating more chances.
🔴❗️ Rúben Amorim: “If we try to just win games and don’t risk nothing in this moment, I guarantee next year at the same stage we will have the same problems”.
“We have to address the new idea and try to be better”, told Sky Sports. pic.twitter.com/0qvwzOI0VS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 24, 2024
The trouble was United couldn’t convert those chances well enough and became more open easily once Ipswich started countering. Statistically speaking, their run was the second lowest in the Premier League until now. Their expected goals were down to 0.90, their third lowest this season, while Ipswich achieved their highest with 1.75.
Experts have noted that while the manager brings new tactics to the team, the team itself is the same, and they will require time to adapt to the new style of play. Throughout the game, they could never impose themselves, which allowed the opposition to make a comeback.
Everyone thought that the game had started just as Amorim would have liked his tenure at the club to begin, with a goal in just 81 seconds. During the brief break, he was seen chatting with Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho to explain how he wanted them to collaborate on the pitch before turning his attention to Jonny Evans and Casemiro.
In his limited time with his players, he has made his best effort to improve the side’s output on the field. As he stated, as soon as he took charge of the Red Devils, he implemented his style, which includes three central defenders and wing-backs.
Amorim making necessary changes at United
What surprised everyone was the position of Noussair Mazroui and Amad. Mazroaui is playing in his fourth position this season, as on Sunday, he featured as the right-sided defender in the back three. Amad, though, is a winger but was positioned in the wing-back, with Garnacho given a more forward role.
Amad was crucial in creating Rashford’s goal and was making the big runs in the field with retrieving a loose ball from the Red Devil’s box as well. United’s new manager was impressed by the Ivorian player and praised him for adapting to the new system well.
As of now Amorim has no time to work with the squad until December when the team will have no midweek fixture. A win at Tottenham in the EFL Cup’s quarter-final next month will extend their midweek clashes to February. There’s also focus on the Europa Cup where United currently stand at 15th.
Amorim has structured a plan to counter the chances of more midweek games being added. He will be getting players who play on matchday to train the following day, which will increase his options. For now, he believes that all the plans will require time for the players to adjust to the fluidity.
After quick start fades out at Portman Road, Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim feels that regaining their glory days will take time. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
