Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suspects that Ruben Amorim’s first Premier League match in charge of Manchester United could prove a tough day at the office. The 39-year-old takes his new team to Portman Road to play Ipswich on Sunday, following his high-profile appointment at the start of the month.
Since replacing Erik ten Hag, the build-up to Amorim arriving at Old Trafford has been lengthy, with him having to serve a 30-day notice at Sporting CP after agreeing his deal.
He finally got to take his first training session on Monday, instantly appearing to impose his renowned 3-4-3 formation that many fans are anticipating him to use this weekend.
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Ipswich lie 17th in the Premier League table, four places and seven points off United. But Carragher thinks the Kieran McKenna factor will ensure that Amorim’s first assignment becomes a very difficult one.
“Facing the side fourth from bottom might seem a gentle introduction to English football for Amorim,” he wrote in the Telegraph. “My suspicion is it will be much trickier than many think.
“United are not just playing Ipswich at Portman Road. They face a manager who arguably knows more about the strengths and weaknesses within United’s squad than the new coach.”
McKenna, 38, worked at United for five years before departing for Ipswich in December 2021. The Englishman coached the club’s Under-18 side before being promoted to the senior set-up, serving as assistant manager to Jose Mourinho and coaching under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
He was also reportedly under consideration by INEOS to replace Ten Hag last summer, before they instead opted to hand the Dutchman a new deal. And Carragher believes his knowledge of the United set-up could prove invaluable, especially if they set-up as expected.
“When the line-ups are announced and McKenna sees which players are adopting unfamiliar positions, it will add another dimension to how Ipswich will try to ruin Amorim’s opening day,” he continued. “McKenna is arguably the best-qualified in the league to make an immediate assessment as to whether some United players will be square pegs in round holes.
“Amorim’s introduction of the 3-4-3 that was so successful at Sporting Lisbon means United’s players will be adapting to an entirely new approach. Longer-term, we can expect a significant improvement in results and performances. Short-term, it is natural to expect teething problems.”
The ex-Liverpool man did however say he had “high expectations” of Amorim’s reign, and praised his display during his first interview. He argued that unlike Ten Hag, he had already mapped out a clear intention and philosophy, and said he had spoken with the air of an ‘elite coach’.
