Amorim looks perfect.
He entered Portman Road wearing a very large coat, which the much milder temperatures didn’t really require.
There was purpose in his manner. His pre-match hug with counterpart Kieran McKenna was cordial and nothing more.
And Rashford’s first goal within two minutes was the perfect start. However, it wasn’t long before Amorim called Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho during a brief break in the game to explain how he expected their combination to work.
Once that conversation was done, he explained what he wanted to Jonny Evans and Casemiro.
The term work-based learning could not be more appropriate.
“Did we really, from what we’ve seen this season, expect this to be a transformed Manchester United team?” questioned Chris Sutton on Radio 5 Live. “Rubén Amorim wants to change the style, but the players have been absent due to international commitments. It is impossible for him to simply flip a switch.”
The style, as expected, included three central defenders and full backs. This is the “idea” Amorim told everyone they would see as soon as he started work.
The positions of Noussair Mazraoui and Amad were the surprise in terms of selection. Three-back defense on the right side is Mazraoui’s fourth position of the season.
Amad is a winger, but was considered a better alternative to Alejandro Garnacho at full-back, who was assigned a more forward role.
The Ivorian’s run and cross set up Rashford’s goal and late in the game he was noticeably chasing a loose ball in the United box before Mazraoui urged him back onto the pitch.
“In three days he has improved a lot defensively,” Amorim said. “His opponent all the time was the left back, so it was like a winger was following him. It’s easier because he just follows a player and is man to man. He was very focused and did a great job.”
