Ruben Amorim calls out Man Utd player in brutal analysis of Ipswich draw afte realizing how badly he performed.
Rúben Amorim’s debut as Manchester United manager in the Premier League concluded with a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Omari Hutchinson’s deflected strike canceled out Marcus Rashford’s early opener, leaving United fans with mixed feelings. Despite brief moments of promise, United’s performance faded, exposing areas that require significant improvement. Supporters were quick to criticize two players for their lackluster display, and Amorim appeared to echo their concerns.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Amorim addressed questions from Jamie Redknapp about his team’s ability to meet the demands of his high-intensity style and compete at the top level. The Portuguese tactician identified veteran defender Jonny Evans as a weak link, particularly for his failure to effectively press Ipswich’s Hutchinson, who frequently found space in dangerous areas.
Evans, deployed on the left side of a back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, was substituted for Luke Shaw in the 56th minute. Amorim explained, “In the first half, their number five [Morsy] was often left unmarked, and we failed to press him. Similarly, Hutchinson [number 20] exploited dead spaces repeatedly. Jonny Evans needed to be more proactive in pressing, but without proper training, it’s tough to implement these reactions. We only had two days to prepare, so the players are still adjusting. When they stay static, they defend but don’t run—and that reflects in the data.”
Amorim emphasized the importance of improving physical conditioning and tactical understanding, saying, “We need to grasp the game better, physically push ourselves to handle high-pressure situations, and increase high-speed running. It takes time and work.”
In his first lineup, Amorim opted for Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot as wing-backs, with Marcus Rashford operating centrally ahead of Rasmus Hojlund. United, currently 12th in the Premier League and six points off the top four, will look to bounce back on Thursday in Amorim’s first home game at Old Trafford, where they face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
