Ruben Amorim gives instant verdict on Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho and Zirkzee in revealing Sky Sports interview
RUBEN AMORIM discussed Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee following his first game in charge of Manchester United.
The Portuguese, 39, was in the dugout as the Red Devils were held 1-1 by Ipswich at Portman Road.
Man Utd had gotten off to the perfect start when Marcus Rashford turned in Amad Diallo‘s cross after just 81 seconds.
But Amorim’s side were pegged back by Omari Hutchinson‘s deflected strike prior to half-time.
After the game, United’s new boss admitted that his players will take time to adapt to his ideas, claiming that they will have to “suffer”.
Chatting to Sky Sports, he also discussed several of his players individually.
On his skipper, he said: “Bruno Fernandes, I think he improved his game by playing nearer the ball, feeling the ball, so he can give us sometimes the long pass.
“But you can not put him there all the time because he wants the long pass all the time.
“So we try to find things about the players, we will need a lot of time to work out these things.”
He then claimed to have immediately learned new things about winger Garnacho.
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Amorim added: “You start discovering things that you didn’t know like Garna, 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.”
Amorim left summer signing Zirkzee out of his first starting XI, instead opting to deploy Rashford up front.
He summoned the forward in the 68th minute, bringing him on for Christian Eriksen.
Zirkzee, 23, played off fellow substitute Rasmus Hojlund after being introduced.
But boss Amorim wasn’t fully satisfied with his display.
‘HAS TO UNDERSTAND’
He said: “I think that [decision-making] is a concern, you don’t need to coach them at this level.
“You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front. Sometimes you feel that you can’t keep the ball and you [have to] put the ball in front.
“Then you have like we are in the end of the game, we were around the box with two strikers. Josh has to understand that he has to go to the box to have the crosses.
“So we are doing some things that were not at the right moment, so that is something we have to address.
“Sometimes people talk about the 3-4-3, that is not the concern, the system is the system but the understanding of the game is what we have to improve a lot in this area.”
Man Utd return to action on Thursday evening, when they host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Onana saves Amorim from embarrassment in first game as boss
MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich.
Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross.
But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson’s strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui.
And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half.
Here is how SunSport’s Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players…
ANDRE ONANA – 7/10
United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal.
Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 5
Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 5
Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap.
JONNY EVANS – 5
The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced.
AMAD DIALLO – 6
Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 5
Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three.
CASEMIRO – 4
Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor.
Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot.
DIOGO DALOT – 5
Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 5
Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man.
Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions.
Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 6
Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics – but did not offer much after that.
Subs
Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) – 6
Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) – 6
Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) – 5
Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) – 5
Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) – 5