Amorim's United Debut Highlights Persistent Challenges in Draw with Ipswich

In Ruben Amorim's first match as Manchester United manager, familiar problems surfaced as the Red Devils could only manage a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town. Despite a dream start with Marcus Rashford scoring after just 81 seconds, United failed to build on their early advantage and were ultimately fortunate to escape with a point thanks to goalkeeper Andre Onana's heroics.

The new manager implemented his trademark back three/five formation, a system he had utilized in his previous 188 games as Sporting boss. While this tactical approach showed promise through Amad Diallo's impressive performance as a wing-back, United's overall display revealed ongoing issues. The midfield pairing of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro struggled to control the game, while creativity in the final third remained a concern, with the team managing just 16 touches in the opposition box throughout the match.

One notable departure from Amorim's usual tactical approach was the absence of his signature high defensive line, with United instead defending deeper than expected. This conservative positioning invited pressure from Ipswich, who dominated the expected goals battle (1.75 vs 0.81). The performance highlighted the scale of the task facing Amorim, as United's attacking woes continued - they've now scored just 19 goals in their last 17 Premier League games. While there were some positive signs, particularly in Amad's adaptation to his new role, the match served as a stark reminder that there will be no quick fix for United's deep-rooted issues under their new manager.