Ruben Amorim endured a difficult start as Manchester United manager, overseeing a 1-1 draw at struggling Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The Portuguese coach, tasked with restoring United’s former glory, had called for “patience” ahead of kick-off. However, his team struck early at a windswept Portman Road, with Marcus Rashford converting Amad Diallo’s precise cross to silence the home crowd within two minutes.
Ipswich, who began the day in the relegation zone, fought back admirably and secured a deserved equaliser just before half-time through Omari Hutchinson’s deflected strike.
The second half produced chances for both sides, but neither could find a decisive goal, leaving Amorim and Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna frustrated. The result sees United languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, six points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, while Ipswich remain in the bottom three.
Before the match, two United supporters held up a homemade sign reading: “Good luck Ruben Amorim, Make our team great again.”
Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag, made three changes to the line-up last fielded by interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. The 39-year-old, United’s youngest manager since Wilf McGuinness in 1969, also implemented a tactical shift to a three-man defence, with Rashford leading the line ahead of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.
United’s fast start saw Diallo surge past Leif Davis and Jens Cajuste to deliver a pinpoint cross for Rashford, who turned it in from close range. Amorim, clad in a black coat and trousers, remained composed on the touchline as his players celebrated.
Christian Eriksen came close to doubling United’s lead with a shot from the edge of the box, but Ipswich soon gained momentum, creating dangerous opportunities as the half progressed.
Andre Onana made a remarkable save to deny Liam Delap from point-blank range in the 40th minute, but Ipswich found their equaliser moments later when Hutchinson’s fierce shot deflected off Noussair Mazraoui and into the net. Among the jubilant crowd of 30,000, Ed Sheeran celebrated enthusiastically.
In the second half, Garnacho forced a save from Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, while Onana denied Delap with a clever stop. Despite introducing Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Højlund, and Joshua Zirkzee, Amorim’s side struggled to break down their opponents.
Bruno Fernandes narrowly missed the target with a free-kick, and Onana thwarted Conor Chaplin at the other end, but neither team could find a winner.
Amorim, the former Sporting Lisbon boss, is United’s sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. His debut highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead, as United look to climb back into contention both domestically and in Europe.