Ruben Amorim claimed Manchester United were 'a little bit afraid' during Ipswich draw, 'need time' to improve
Published 24/11/2024 at 19:52 GMT
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town in the first game of Ruben Amorim's tenure as manager. After full-time, Amorim stressed that United would improve, adding that his side had a tendency to overthink, adding his players were "a little bit afraid". The draw sees United languish in 12th in the Premier League table, while the newly-promoted Ipswich remain in the relegation zone.
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admitted his side were at times "afraid" as his managerial tenure began with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Marcus Rashford kicked off the 39-year-old's era at the United helm with a flourish, by scoring after just 81 seconds, only for Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson to level proceedings with a wonderful first-half strike that curled beyond Andre Onana.
Ipswich, managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna, could even have claimed their first league win over the Old Trafford club since September 1994, but Liam Delap was twice thwarted by an inspired Onana.
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The result sees United stay in 12th while the newly-promoted Ipswich remain in the relegation zone.
Having only taken the reins at Old Trafford during the recent international break, Amorim insisted his side would need time to adjust to his methods.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the United manager said: "They want this, the players want this, they don't know how to get it. That was my feeling.
"You start discovering things that you didn't know, like Garna (Alejandro Garnacho), can hold the ball between the lines. You can understand that by seeing the games because he's always open, so you try to find these things.
"Bruno Fernandes improved his game by playing near the ball. So he can give us the long pass, but you cannot put him there all the time because he wants the long pass all the time.
"We will try to find a lot of things about the players, we will need a lot of time to work out these things."
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Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, looks on during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Manchester United FC at Portman Road on November 24, 2024 in Ipswich, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Amorim added that his side were overthinking and at times "a little bit afraid".
"I think my players were thinking too much," the United manager continued. "We lost some balls without pressure. But they really, really tried and they want this.
"It's a tough league. You learn that in the first moment. My players were thinking too much in the game. You can feel it. Not just on the ball but where they are supposed to be. And that is hard. It's just two days with the team, so it's really hard. I think we needed more physicality in the first half.
"It's a tough match, we lost some balls without pressure. You have to control the ball and the tempo of the game. They didn't do it but they really tried. They are really trying and they want this.
"We have to try to from the first moment, we have to address the new idea and try to be better next year at the same stage.
"Decision-making is a concern, you don't need to coach them at this level. We are doing some things not in the right moment and that's what we have to address.
"The 3-4-3 is not the concern, the understanding of the game is what we have to improve."
He added: "If you see the first half, you can see that they are a little bit afraid. [Morsy] was always alone. We have to jump on him.
"Hutchinson was always in the dead space, Jonny Evans should be pressing his guy but when we don't have training and it's hard to say all the reactions to the players, we had two days so they are confused a little bit.
"We have to look at the data, understand the data and look at that. First, we have to understand the game, we have to be so much better physically to cope with the high pressure, the volume of high-speed running, all these things, but we need time to work on these things."
Amorim will take charge of his first UEFA Europa League clash as United boss on Thursday against Bodo/Glimt - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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