Amorim’s reign as Manchester United manager kicked off on a promising note at Portman Road, with Marcus Rashford giving the visitors an early lead just two minutes into the match.
Despite United’s strong start, Ipswich Town had their moments to shine. Liam Delap squandered a golden opportunity before Omari Hutchinson leveled the score for Kieran McKenna’s side with a long-range strike that took a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui, leaving Andre Onana helpless as the ball sailed into the top corner.
In the second half, Amorim shook things up by making five substitutions, introducing Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Mason Mount. Zirkzee, deployed in a No.10 role behind Hojlund, found himself under Amorim’s scrutiny. The Portuguese manager highlighted the Dutchman’s need to improve his positioning and urgency in the box during attacking plays.
“Decision-making at this level is critical, and it’s not something we should have to coach extensively,” Amorim said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “Players need to read the game better, maintain possession, and recognize the right moments to push forward. In the closing stages, we had two strikers in the box, and Josh [Zirkzee] must realize he needs to be there for those crosses. It’s not about the system; it’s about understanding the game and making the right choices.”
Amorim also criticized Jonny Evans for failing to press Hutchinson before the equalizer, noting that United were overly cautious in the first half. “We allowed Morsy [Ipswich’s No.5] too much freedom,” he remarked. “Hutchinson exploited the space, and Evans should have closed him down. With just two days of preparation, it was tough to achieve the level of sharpness needed. When you sit back and avoid pressing, you’re not moving enough, and the data reflects that. We must work on our physicality and adapt to handling high-pressure situations.”
The manager further emphasized the importance of utilizing Bruno Fernandes in a more central role to enhance United’s build-up play. “Bruno is more effective when he operates closer to the ball, allowing him to deliver those incisive long passes,” Amorim explained. “However, he can’t always rely on the long ball; we need more balance in his game. It’s still early days, and understanding each player’s strengths will take time.”
Amorim’s candid assessment underscored the challenges he faces in fine-tuning United’s performance, but his determination to address tactical and positional shortcomings suggests a clear vision for improvement.
