Ruben Amorim has said from the start that to be the one to awaken Manchester United from its slumber, he is going to have to upset the apple cart.
Predicting his starting line-ups has been futile thus far, given he is so willing to experiment. One selection that raised eyebrows against Ipswich at Portman Road on Sunday was Amorim’s decision to go with Marcus Rashford as his central striker – a role the unpredictable local forward has rarely fulfilled in recent years.
A Rashford goal inside 81 seconds gave Amorim immediate credence for making the big call. As did Rasmus Hojlund’s lack of willing to press – something that left the new boss opened-mouthed – when the Dane came on.
Rashford very quickly faded, persuading Amorim to give Hojlund the opportunity to make amends against Bodo/Glimt. And the striker earmarked as the club’s number nine for many years to come at least settled one of the many conundrums flooding the new manager’s thoughts.
“He [Amorim] told me not to think too much about the guys behind me and just work on what I can see in front of me,” Hojlund said. “We saw that with the first goal.
“Obviously it’s going to take time and we can already see some patterns. Now for us it’s time to build. For me this system reminds me of how I played in a 3-4-3 at Atalanta. It suits me well.”
One of the many reasons Erik ten Hag was cut loose by new United overlords Ineos was his woeful European record against mediocre opposition – a run plagued by conceding goals in quick succession with alarming frequency.
Old habits die hard and after another lightning start to his second match in charge, Amorim was brought crashing back down to earth as familiar psychological vulnerability allowed another modest European outfit, Bodo, to turn Thursday night’s match on its head.
Hojlund came to his new boss’s rescue, however, with two well-taken goals to earn Amorim that crucial first win. As has been a common theme thus far, the performance provided the 39-year-old with more questions than answers.
The manner of the opener after 46 seconds gave Amorim another early sense of self -actualisation. One of the many reality checks the new head coach received on Sunday was that, even for supposed elite-level footballers, United’s inability to press has been somewhat dumfounding.
Twice in two weeks Amorim has called his players out on it, willing to highlight a flaw Ten Hag refused to admit needed remedying. An element of panacea has already been found.
Hojlund uncharacteristically led the charge from the front, seemingly aware of the thin ice he was on, harrying Bodo goalkeeper Nikita Haikin into an error and allowing Alejandro Garnacho the freedom of Stretford to break the deadlock.
In the blink of an eye, though, Amorim’s first European foray threatened to turn sour as Hakon Evjen hammered a stunning equaliser into the top corner in the 19th minute, before former Watford and Nottingham Forest winger Philip Zinckernagel outpaced the lesser spotted Tyrell Malacia, making his first United start in 550 days, and drilled a fizzing strike home.
The largest ever away following in European competition at Old Trafford were in ecstasy.
Nonetheless the quality in the United ranks has never been in doubt, with Hojlund the epitome of a starlet with boundless talent in need of guidance.
“Overthinking” is another buzzword Amorim has brought up every time he has been asked to explain his side’s flaws. All too often on Thursday night, Garnacho got lost in his own head when presented with glaring openings by Bodo.
Hojlund’s superb strike on the half turn to level things up is just the kind of instinctive work Amorim is looking for, finishing off a move that was birthed by pressing high up the pitch.
Once Hojlund had completed the turnaround early in the second half, slotting home after a fine, flowing move, United at least looked comfortable in their own skin with a lead in Europe.
It helps when the number nine does as the manager requires. A Hojlund that presses will keep him at the forefront of Amorim’s revolution.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/cy4XhxE
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