Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United are ‘concerned’ after players were ‘confused’ in first match in charge

Amorim admits his Manchester United side will take time to learn his methods (REUTERS)

Amorim admits his Manchester United side will take time to learn his methods (REUTERS)

Ruben Amorim says his players are guilty of overthinking after Manchester United began life under their new manager with a 1-1 draw at Ipswich.

Marcus Rashford and Omari Hutchinson exchanged first-half goals at a packed Portman Road.

United settled on a back three – the system favored by Amorim at his former club Sporting Lisbon – and were indebted to goalkeeper Andre Onana for a series of top saves, particularly in the first half.

The cumulative 102 kilometers covered by United’s players during the duration of the match was their second lowest figure of the entire season, and Amorim revealed his team still had plenty of room for improvement.

The Portuguese told Sky Sports after the match: “I think my players thought too much during the match. You could feel it. They weren’t just thinking about the ball, but also about where they were supposed to be.

Amorim drew his first match in charge of Manchester United (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)Amorim drew his first match in charge of Manchester United (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Amorim drew his first match in charge of Manchester United (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

“In the first half we needed more physicality. We will have problems; players will sometimes be confused. But we must address, [from] this moment, new ideas and trying to be better next year at the same stage.

Amorim was asked by Sky Sports pundit and former United midfielder Roy Keane if poor decision-making was a problem he needed to address.

“It’s a concern,” Amorim admitted. “We do certain things at the wrong time. This is a problem that we need to address.

“Everyone talks about 3-4-3; that’s not the problem. A system is a system, but I think the understanding of the game needs to be improved a lot. It will take us a long time to improve these things.

“It was a difficult match. We lost a few balls without pressure. We [only] I had two days [of training]so they are a little confused. They’re really, really trying, and they want it.

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