Amorim’s stint as Manchester United manager began on a positive note at Portman Road, with Marcus Rashford scoring within the first two minutes of the match.
However, Ipswich had their opportunities, with Liam Delap squandering a good chance before they equalized through Omari Hutchinson’s long-range effort, which deflected off Noussair Mazraoui and found the top corner past Andre Onana.
In the second half, Amorim made five substitutions, bringing on Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Mason Mount.
Zirkzee was deployed in a No. 10 role behind Hojlund after coming on in the 68th minute, but Amorim emphasized that the Dutch forward must improve his positioning in the box during United’s attacking plays.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim stated, “Decision-making is an issue; at this level, it shouldn’t need coaching. You need to hold onto the ball and read the momentum to place it correctly.
Sometimes you must push the ball forward when possession can’t be maintained. In the final moments, with two strikers in the box, Josh [Zirkzee] needs to be in there to meet the crosses.”
Amorim also highlighted the team’s struggles with decision-making, stressing the need for better understanding of the game. He said, “People talk about the 3-4-3 system, but the issue isn’t the system itself—it’s our understanding of the game that needs improvement.”
He also criticized Jonny Evans for not pressing Hutchinson, allowing him to receive the ball and threaten United’s defense. “In the first half, we were too passive.
Morsy [No. 5] was always free, and we should have pressed him. Hutchinson found space, and Jonny Evans should have been tighter on him.”
Amorim acknowledged the lack of training time ahead of the match, which limited the team’s ability to react swiftly. “We had just two days to prepare, and the players were a bit confused.
If you sit back and don’t press, you’re not moving enough. We can see this in the data, and we need to work on improving our physicality and handling high-pressure situations.”
Finally, Amorim expressed a desire for Bruno Fernandes to play a more central role in United’s build-up play. “I think Bruno Fernandes improved when he was closer to the ball, as that allows him to deliver long passes. But you can’t expect him to always be in that position, as he tends to want the long ball every time.
We’re still learning about the players, and it will take time to get everything right.”
