Frank Christian
Ruben Amorim’s debut as the manager of Manchester United was marked by a disappointing 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.
Fresh from the international break, United faced a challenging Premier League match but struggled to keep up with Ipswich’s energy during Amorim’s first game in charge.
Marcus Rashford gave United an early lead just 90 seconds into the match, exciting the away supporters, but they soon saw their joy fade as Omari Hutchinson equalized with a deflected shot before halftime.
In the second half, United found it hard to pick up the pace, and keeper Andre Onana played a crucial role by making several important saves to secure a point for his team.
Although earning a point away is not a disaster, Amorim acknowledged that some players were overanalyzing their decisions during critical moments.
Amorim believes he can communicate his strategies effectively to the team, but challenges lie ahead at Old Trafford.
As part of his tactical adjustments, Amorim is likely to gradually implement a system similar to the 3-4-3 formation he successfully used at Sporting CP, starting with a 3-4-2-1 formation against Ipswich.
This setup included Amad Diallo playing as a right wing-back, contributing with an assist for Rashford’s goal, while Alejandro Garnacho operated as a No.10 alongside Bruno Fernandes, the team captain.
Garnacho struggled to make an impact in this more central role, with his speed and ability to drive the game forward being more effective from a wider position, a sentiment echoed by former Premier League player Robbie Savage.
“I don’t think Ruben Amorim’s strategy is ideal for Alejandro Garnacho. He performed as one of the No.10s, but I believe he is better suited as a wing-back,” Savage remarked, as noted by BBC Sport.
Amorim will need time to implement his vision at Manchester, but optimizing Garnacho’s role is essential, especially since he has already scored three goals in the Premier League this season—more than any other player on the team.
