Ruben Amorim’s debut as Manchester United manager got off to an unremarkable start, with the club held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.
The Portuguese coach, who was appointed with the task of restoring United to the top of English football, had called for “patience” before kick-off. However, his team’s performance was far from assured, and the result left both Amorim and Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna frustrated.
United’s afternoon began brightly, with Marcus Rashford giving them a dream start in the second minute. Amad Diallo delivered a superb cross from the right, which Rashford turned in from close range to stun the home crowd. But Ipswich, who were in the relegation zone ahead of the match, responded strongly. Just before half-time, Omari Hutchinson equalized with a powerful shot that deflected off United’s Noussair Mazraoui and past goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Despite creating several chances in the second half, neither side could break the deadlock. United, under Amorim’s new tactical setup, struggled to find rhythm, and Ipswich were resolute in defence, despite having only one Premier League win to their name this season.
The result leaves Manchester United languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, now six points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal. Ipswich, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone, still searching for a breakthrough to lift them out of danger.
Ahead of the match, two Manchester United fans displayed a homemade banner reading, “Good luck Ruben Amorim, Make our team great again,” hoping the former Sporting Lisbon coach could be the catalyst for a turnaround. Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag, made three changes to the lineup and switched to a three-at-the-back formation, with Rashford leading the line as a lone striker supported by Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.
United’s early goal came after Diallo burst down the right flank, evading Ipswich defenders Leif Davis and Jens Cajuste to whip in a pinpoint cross for Rashford to convert. United dominated the opening stages, with Christian Eriksen also coming close in the seventh minute, but Ipswich gradually found their footing.
The home side was unlucky not to equalize in the 40th minute, with Onana making a crucial save to deny Liam Delap’s close-range shot, before Cajuste’s follow-up went over the bar.
Ipswich’s persistence paid off just before the break when Hutchinson’s powerful strike deflected off Mazraoui’s head and left Onana with no chance. The goal was met with wild celebrations from the 30,000-strong crowd, with singer Ed Sheeran, a known Ipswich supporter, among those celebrating in the stands.
In the second half, Garnacho had a chance to restore United’s lead but was denied by Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric. United’s frustrations continued as they failed to capitalize on a number of good chances. Amorim made tactical changes, introducing Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, and later forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, but the attacking spark was still lacking.
Fernandes tested Muric with a free-kick that narrowly missed the post, while Onana made a key save from Ipswich’s Conor Chaplin. In the end, neither side could produce the quality needed to secure a winner.
At 39, Amorim becomes United’s youngest permanent manager since Wilf McGuinness in 1969. He is the sixth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with his tenure beginning in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. Amorim will now face the challenge of improving a team that has struggled for consistency in recent seasons.
