Ruben Amorim Reflects on ‘Special’ Inaugural Manchester United Victory Amidst ‘Anxiety’

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim celebrated his Old Trafford debut with a thrilling 3-2 Europa League victory against Bodo/Glimt. He described the support from Man Utd fans as “really special” but also admitted to a feeling of anxiety as his players work to comprehend his tactical demands. The audible expression of relief from the 39-year-old, following Rasmus Hojlund’s first of two goals that equalized the match at half-time, highlighted the pressure Amorim is currently facing. The Portuguese coach transitioned to the club approximately one-third into the season, determined to introduce a wing-back formation, a system Manchester United has not frequently employed recently. This transition occurs during a period of the campaign characterized by significant fixture congestion. Prior to his initial match at Ipswich on Sunday, Amorim conducted two comprehensive training sessions with his full squad, followed by two additional sessions leading up to this European victory. He has previously stated that his approach to this situation involves having players who do not start games participate in full training sessions the following day. Amorim expressed uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of this method. “I get anxious because I don’t know what will happen,” he informed TNT Sports. He continued, “We don’t control anything at the moment.” He added, “I don’t know the players and we have not worked a lot together.” Concluding, he stated, “We go to the game excited, but at the same time you are nervous because you don’t know how the game will go.” Ruben Amorim was met with a standing ovation upon his entrance before Manchester United’s match against Bodo/Glimt, marking his inaugural appearance at Old Trafford. While the extensive injury roster that plagued Erik ten Hag’s final weeks at Old Trafford is beginning to diminish, persistent problems stemming from prolonged player absences persist. Tyrell Malacia, making his first appearance in 18 months, played only 45 minutes in the left wing-back position, a role known for its significant physical requirements on the selected player. Luke Shaw entered the game as a substitute for the second time, replacing Lisandro Martinez, who was participating in his first match since sustaining an injury prior to this month’s international break. Mason Mount commenced his first game since August, having been affected by injuries since his transfer to United from Chelsea at the beginning of last season. Consequently, it was a source of relief for Amorim that his squad emerged victorious. They capitalized on Alejandro Garnacho’s opening goal after 48 seconds and subsequently recovered, thanks to Hojlund’s two goals, after conceding two first-half goals within seven minutes. “We improved different things since the last game,” he stated. He added, “We controlled more of the tempo, pushed the team a bit higher (up the pitch) and created more chances.” Amorim expressed dissatisfaction, remarking that “we should kill the game before the end,” as he regretted two squandered chances by Garnacho and an additional opportunity from substitute Marcus Rashford, who shot across goal, all occurring in the second half. “I like the way the players tried to play our game,” he further commented. He continued, “Sometimes we won the ball and have had problems in the past giving the ball away too much – the mindset is keeping the ball.” He concluded, “They are really trying and I think we deserved the win.” Amorim emphasizes that his deployment of wing-backs is not groundbreaking, but it is clear that his tactical setup heavily relies on the performance of the player chosen for the number nine position. Regardless of the individual, that player is anticipated to engage the opposing defense and retain possession sufficiently for supporting players to advance. Following the Ipswich match, Amorim indicated that Marcus Rashford was not suitable for the role. Hojlund’s display against Bodo/Glimt proved more promising, despite his manager informing TNT that the Danish player was “dead” from exhaustion by the match’s conclusion. During the primary press conference held 20 minutes later, Amorim addressed Hojlund’s overall performance, commending the £72m acquisition from Atalanta, while also outlining several expectations. “He has to improve more because sometimes he gives too many touches when he holds the ball, but he is very important when we are in a low block because he is the guy who connects in the transitions,” Amorim stated. He continued, “For the goals he was aggressive in the box. He is a quality player, scores the most difficult goals and did a great job today.” Matches are scheduled in rapid succession for Amorim; Manchester United’s longest interval between fixtures until the year’s end is four days. If the club advances in the Carabao Cup, no longer break between games will occur before the conclusion of January. Nevertheless, Amorim conveys an impression of enjoyment, as United supporters have already composed a song in his honor and provided a warm welcome upon his exit from the tunnel, followed by an enthusiastic reception when he returned after the game was won. “It was special because I came from Portugal and half of the stadium doesn’t know me,” he remarked. He added, “I have done nothing for this club yet but the way they support me from the beginning made me feel I am not alone now, that I am one of them. I hope not to disappoint them.”