'It's really hard' - Every word Amorim said after Man Utd debut

Tom Weber

• Updated: 24 Nov 2024 19:29 GMT
• 5 min read

Ruben Amorim faced the media after overseeing his first Manchester United game in charge.

The Portuguese tactician made his long-awaited debut on a touchline in the Premier League as Man Utd travelled to promoted side Ipswich Town on Sunday.

The Red Devils stormed into an early lead courtesy of a brilliant run by Amad Diallo whose cross was easily dispatched by Marcus Rashford after just 81 seconds.

It was a dream start for Amorim but things relatively soon took a turn for the worse. Man Utd found themselves increasingly under pressure and Omari Hutchinson eventually levelled the game with a deflected shot from outside of the box.

READ MORE: Winners and Losers as Man Utd struggle on Ruben Amorim's debut

Ipswich were brave and intense and created ample opportunities to snatch all three points from Amorim's side, who will feel lucky to have come away with a point.

It was an Erik ten Hag-esque performance, but of course, Amorim has only been able to train with the team for a few days.

Amorim faces the media

Amorim faced the media after the match and gave his thoughts on the performance, his 3-4-3 system and the mentality of his players. "It's a tough league," he told Sky Sports. "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. It's just two days with the full team so it's really hard. I think the physicality we needed more 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 since 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 in 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."

READ MORE: From Ferguson to Ruben Amorim: How every Man Utd manager did on their debut

Amorim also expressed his uneasiness with being in the limelight. "This week I spoke more [to the media] than I did in four years at Sporting. I just want to work with my players. Nothing more," he insisted.

"They want this, the players want this, they don't know how to get it, that was my feeling," Amorim continued. "[During the game] you start discovering things that you didn't know like [Alejandro Garnacho] can hold the ball between lines, you can understand that by seeing the games because he's always open so you try to find these things.

"Bruno Fernandes, he 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.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "Not a good result but it is a tough league with high intensity. We started very well but should have had more of the ball. But we are learning.

"[The formation change] was really hard for them, they were thinking what to do, it was not fluid which is normal after just two training sessions but they tried hard. They have so much space to improve.

"But after a draw, you never feel the good things. So I am really happy because they tried but they can do so much better. We worked on that [the early goal] but they have the talent to do it, and then it is all about the players.

"We don't have too many centre-backs so we have to adapt some players. I thought Noussair Mazraoui did very well. He is so smart and is so important for us. He can play anywhere and that kind of player is crucial for our future.

"[The Premier League] is a great environment, a great spectacle. But when the game starts it is like I am back in Portugal or the third division. I am so focused everything is the same. You guys are so lucky to have the best league in the world. I am really happy to be here but today I don't feel much because I like to win games."