Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United manager began on a promising note at Portman Road, with Marcus Rashford firing the visitors into the lead just two minutes into the match.
However, Ipswich Town created plenty of opportunities to respond. Liam Delap missed a clear chance before Kieran McKenna’s side equalized with a long-range effort from Omari Hutchinson. The shot deflected off Noussair Mazraoui’s head, looping into the top corner past a helpless Andre Onana.
In the second half, Amorim introduced five substitutes, including Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Højlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Mason Mount. Zirkzee was deployed as a No.10 behind Højlund after his 68th-minute arrival. Despite this adjustment, Amorim voiced concerns about the Dutch forward’s effort in United’s attacking play.
“Decision-making is an issue,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “At this level, players shouldn’t need coaching in basics. You need to keep possession, recognize the momentum, and make the right choices to put the ball where it needs to be.
“In the closing stages, we had two strikers in the box, but Josh needs to understand he has to be there to meet crosses. It’s not just about the system—it’s about understanding the game and making smarter decisions.”
Amorim also highlighted defensive lapses in the build-up to Ipswich’s equalizer, pointing to Jonny Evans’ failure to press Hutchinson effectively. “In the first half, we were too cautious,” Amorim said. “We let [Ipswich’s captain] Morsy dictate play because we didn’t press him. Hutchinson found too much space, and Evans should have been on him earlier.
“With just two days of training, the players were a bit disjointed. When you stay back and don’t press, you’re not covering enough ground. The data shows we need to improve our physicality and ability to handle high-pressure situations.”
Amorim also addressed Bruno Fernandes’ role in United’s system, advocating for the playmaker to take up more central positions during the team’s build-up play. “Bruno improves when he plays closer to the ball,” Amorim explained. “He can deliver those key passes, but we can’t have him looking for the long ball every time. It’s about finding balance—we’re still learning about the players, and it will take time to get everything right.”
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