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Sunday 24 November 2024 19:45
United failed to earn the three points that supporters craved during Ruben Amorim’s first game as head coach, but the new man in charge was encouraged by his players’ efforts in East Anglia.
The Reds lined up in a fresh 3-4-2-1 system against Ipswich at Portman Road, with Amad in the unusual position of right wing-back and Marcus Rashford spearheading the attack.
Within two minutes, those arrangements had yielded an opening goal for Rashford, but United were hauled in by Omari Hutchinson’s equaliser towards the end of the first half.
Despite the contest finishing 1-1, Amorim was encouraged by his players’ willingness to take on board his instructions and a system that is very new to them, especially so given the Portuguese has enjoyed just two training sessions with the full squad.
“They tried to do it, that’s the main point,” said Ruben. “We have a lot to improve, but they tried. This is the first point; the most important point.
“They were thinking too much during the game, trying to cope with everything we said during training. But it was [just] two trainings.
“We could win this game, but also Onana did great saves. It’s always tough to play in this league and we will improve in the future.”
Amorim stressed that his relationships with the players now at his disposal were still in the early stages, and said that he would work to fill them with belief and a sense of the joy of football.
“They are intelligent and they have to believe in that,” he enthused. “And they have to believe and remember they are good players, and they have to enjoy, so we will try to do that, giving information, trying to help them.
“It’s important for me to know the players – what they like to do, what they are capable of doing, and we need time to find that. Today was not a good result, but we will improve in the future.”
Andre Onana was arguably United’s outstanding figure in Ipswich, and Amorim agreed with the general consensus that the Cameroonian was a rock for the Reds.
“A goalkeeper is so important in one team. When we needed, Onana was there,” he praised.
“With the ball, he was very good. He didn’t use all the time long balls – he tried to connect – so it was a great game for Andre.”
The 39-year-old has just four days before his second fixture in charge: Thursday’s Europa League game against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford.
Amorim reassured fans that every minute would be maximised, to speed up the squad’s appreciation for the new ‘idea’ they are being asked to deliver on the pitch.
“That is the goal [to use the time on the training pitch],” he said. “We have to use every minute to work with the team. Everybody has to play with this schedule and we will do that.
“Everybody is going to play… We have to, all together, try to find ways to win games, to win time and to improve the team.”
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Sunday 24 November 2024 19:45
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