Owen Hargreaves has revealed that Ruben Amorim expressed significant frustration with several Manchester United players during their 1-1 Premier League draw against Ipswich Town on Sunday, which marked Amorim's managerial debut. While United showed flashes of promise, they also reverted to familiar shortcomings, leading Amorim to acknowledge that transforming the squad will require patience and time. He cautioned fans that the process of adapting to his tactical philosophy will bring challenges, stating the team will "suffer for a long period" before improvements become evident.
Hargreaves, who was near the technical area during the match, observed Amorim’s visible dissatisfaction with player performances, particularly Diogo Dalot, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Højlund, and Marcus Rashford. He noted that Amorim was frustrated with Dalot’s positioning in the first half, the balance of the midfield, and the contributions of substitutes such as Zirkzee and Højlund. Reflecting on the game, Hargreaves commented on Amorim’s initial optimism but pointed out that the manager quickly realized the enormity of the task at hand.
One of Hargreaves' key observations was Amorim's choice of midfield, expressing surprise that 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo did not make an appearance. He believes Mainoo, alongside Manuel Ugarte, could become central to Amorim’s system, questioning the effectiveness of relying on Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in a Premier League midfield. Hargreaves emphasized that Eriksen and Casemiro struggled against Ipswich, particularly when facing Omari’s agility and quick turns.
Hargreaves also highlighted positional issues, particularly with Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, noting Amorim’s frustration with their roles and lack of impact. He suggested that several players were deployed out of their natural positions, which affected their performances. Additionally, he praised Ipswich’s performance and pointed out that United struggled to maintain their early momentum after scoring a strong opening goal.
In conclusion, Hargreaves warned that United will face significant challenges as Amorim tries to implement his system. With personnel adjustments and tactical changes necessary, the team will need time to adapt if they are to succeed in the 2024-2025 campaign.
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