Manchester United began life under new manager Ruben Amorim by drawing 1-1 with Ipswich Town.
Marcus Rashford made it a dream start for United’s Portuguese head coach when he got on the end of Amad Diallo’s fine cross to score the opening goal after just 81 seconds. Omari Hutchinson’s stunner before half-time pegged United back and eventually earned a point for the hosts at Portman Road.
Here, Standard Sport takes a look at five things we learned from the Red Devils’ opening night of a new era…
Amorim to persist with a back three
Having used a three-man defence in 230 of his 231 matches as Sporting Lisbon manager, here was confirmation that the Portuguese will adopt the same system with United.
The personnel of that defence is likely to change dramatically once the likes of Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez are back fit, but a makeshift trio of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans fared well enough at Portman Road, enjoying plenty of the ball.
Only by Hutchinson’s super strike were they beaten.
Diogo Dalot not the solution on the left
There have been widespread reports that United will look at signing a new left wing-back to suit the system in the January transfer window, and if that is to be believed then, based on this viewing, Amorim won’t have changed his mind about the need to.
Dalot is a right-back by trade and despite defending resolutely on the left he did not display much attacking adventure in his performance. When Luke Shaw came on, he played at left centre-back, suggesting Amorim does not see him as the left wing-back solution either.
More energy needed in midfield
This was true under Erik ten Hag, too, but the 3-4-3 system loses a midfielder and makes the need for stamina in the middle of the park even more vital. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, with their combined 64 years of age, offered composure on the ball but did not cover all the ground required of them.
It allowed the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Hutchinson far too much room to roam into. That is something Amorim must address.
Andre Onana more than up to the task
Particularly this season, the Cameroonian has looked every bit good enough to be Manchester United’s long-term No1. At Portman Road, he was nothing short of brilliant.
The 28-year-old made outstanding saves from Liam Delap either side of the break, plus a good first-half save down low to his right to deny Szmodics.
Amorim may feel his squad needs bolstering in a number of positions in the next couple of transfer windows, but a new first-choice goalkeeper should not be high on his wish list. Onana is an excellent option.
Sign of things to come for new-look front three
Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes look set to remain United’s key trio in attack — just as they were under Ten Hag — but in a different shape.
Rashford scored within two minutes as he led the line, while Garnacho and Fernandes were a bundle of energy, constantly on the move and looking to feed the Englishman or one another with incisive through-balls.
If they can click, the Red Devils will be devastating, but when Garnacho and Rashford broke free in the second half and failed to make Ipswich pay, the need for greater decisiveness was laid bare.
