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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Amorim era got off to an underwhelming start with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in which Andre Onana proved to be the hero, the United goalkeeper making some fine saves to earn his side a point. The new head coach might have been expecting a different outcome when Marcus Rashford scored in the second minute, but United failed to push on and were ultimately relieved to escape Portman Road with a point.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Amorim admitted his players were “afraid” and “confused” after the match, and this idea has been echoed by Maguire. The centre-back, who missed the game due to injury, believes his team-mates were too focused on the Portuguese coach’s instructions during the encounter.
“When you come from one style to another style, like the manager said in his interview after, I think people on the pitch are thinking too much where they want to be,” Maguire told Sky Sports.
“At the end of the day, it’s a football match. Go and be better than your opponent and go and win the football match. Within that, play with his principles.
“I think we overthought the game against Ipswich. I think that’s natural because the boys are wanting to play the way that the new manager wants to play. But I think we’ve got to let it adapt with [fluency], rather than forcing it.”
WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
It will take more than just a solitary international break for Amorim’s players to get to grips with his 3-4-3 formation, but the former Sporting CP boss – who has already identified three areas for improvement – will hope to see signs of progress in Thursday’s game against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
