"He Doesn’t Have Magic Wand": What Experts Said About Amorim’s Debut Match as ManUnited coach

Manchester United’s new manager, Rúben Amorim, oversaw his first match in charge as the Red Devils drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town in the 12th round of the Premier League.

After the game, experts agreed that Amorim could not transform a struggling team in such a short time and emphasized the extensive work ahead for the Portuguese coach.

United legend Roy Keane, speaking to Sky Sports, expressed his disappointment with the team’s attacking display and questioned their ability to compete for a top-four finish:

"We saw a good start—he couldn’t have dreamed of a better one! It was exciting, young players running, and Rashford, who we’ve criticized, scoring. A dream beginning. But the pressure at United is a whole different level than at Sporting.

United stepped back, and you think: what are you waiting for? Push forward! It felt like they were scared to keep going and win the game. They lacked confidence and belief.

Do I think they have the quality to get back into the top four? Absolutely not. There’s no foundation for that. It’s the same old story: predictability and a real lack of quality.

We saw the shape of the team, but it’s the same players and the same problems. This was his first game—there’s a lot for him to take in, and it’s been a mentally tough week for him [Amorim]. Ultimately, though, he’ll be disappointed."

Former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp also spoke to Sky Sports, cautioning against rushing to conclusions about Amorim’s potential:

"Manchester United aren’t scoring much, but Amorim has a lot of issues to fix. I’m already thinking about the system he’ll want to implement. The players in this system won’t necessarily be the ones he relies on in the future. You won’t see players like Jonny Evans or [Noussair] Mazraoui in that system long-term.

It’s exactly what I expected. The coach doesn’t have a magic wand, and he’s barely had time to work with these players. He’s trying to build a system and a style of play, but that takes time.

The players who have let you down over the past year or so don’t suddenly become great players just because Amorim has come in. That’s not how it works. So patience, time, and he’ll learn a lot along the way."

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer acknowledged several positive aspects in Manchester United's performance during their 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.

"United started incredibly well, but perhaps there’s some disappointment that they didn’t push on further. They looked very dangerous but ended up backing themselves into a corner.

André Onana played his part, making some important saves. Then the team stepped back a little, which is understandable given the limited time they’ve had working together. There’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic in their game," Schwarzer noted.

Recall: Manchester United will face Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League on November 28.