Amorim warns fans: No pain, no gain

IPSWICH, England — Ruben Amorim did not pull any punches after a disappointing start to his career in the Manchester United dugout on Sunday, admitting the troubled club will "suffer for a long time".

If that is not what frustrated fans want to hear, the evidence from the underwhelming 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich was stark.

The visitors got off to a dream start when Marcus Rashford scored from close-range in the second minute, after a fine run from makeshift wing-back Amad Diallo.

But, United quickly went off the boil, looking ponderous in attack and uncertain at the back, with Omari Hutchinson giving third-from-bottom Ipswich a deserved equalizer at the end of the first half.

Neither team could find a winner after the break.

"We are going to suffer for a long period, and we will try to win games," Amorim said in a post-match news conference, seeking to temper expectations.

"This will take time, but I know we have to win games. We could have won, we could have lost if it were not for (goalkeeper Andre) Onana.

"We have to understand that, and think and be pragmatic. These guys had two days to train and to change so much."

United, languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, is already 15 points behind Premier League leader Liverpool after 12 games, and six points adrift of fourth place, a position currently occupied by Arsenal.

Fanfare

Amorim arrived in Manchester earlier this month to much fanfare after replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag.

He is touted as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe after winning two Portuguese titles with Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim is the club's sixth permanent managerial appointment since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after leading United to a 20th English title.

And, at 39, he is the youngest United boss since Wilf McGuinness, who followed Matt Busby in 1969.

But, for all the hype around Amorim, United's flat performance in blustery conditions at Portman Road showed the scale of the task ahead of him to restore the side to the Premier League's elite.

In his defense, Amorim had just days to work with his full squad following the conclusion of the international break, and he pleaded for patience.

"It's hard to expect anything now," he said. "It's not a surprise, but you have to see it in-game.

"So that's why I was a little bit anxious, because you cannot know what will happen in the game.

"I felt that. I felt that they were trying, they were thinking too much during the game, and that is normal."

United next faces Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt at home in the Europa League on Thursday — which will be his first taste of a match at Old Trafford.

Amorim said he would have to find a way to train his players alongside a cascade of matches, both domestically and in Europe, over the coming months.

"With this schedule, we need to rotate the team," he said. "So we'll try to use that to train, to improve the team, and to win matches.

"So that's the point. Without time, we have to find the time. I think this is the only way."

He admitted there would be an adjustment period for the players to get used to the specific demands of his 3-4-3 formation, but said they had to take risks now to ensure long-term prosperity.

"Next year, at the same stage we'll be here with the same problems," Amorim said.

"Or, we start now, we risk a little bit, we suffer a little bit and, at this point next year, we will be better."

AFP