Ruben Amorim has had a tough welcome to the Premier League after earning just 18 points from his 16 games.
Manchester United got back to winning on Monday night after a five-goal thriller against relegation-bound Ipswich Town, which former United coach Kieran McKenna manages.
Harry Maguire’s header earned 10-man United a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ipswich following Patrick Dorgu’s dismissal in the first half. It was Ruben Amorim’s fifth league win in charge as his side fought back from a couple of major setbacks.
McKenna’s side left Old Trafford ruing what could have been, but they were unable to make Andre Onana work in the second half. Two of Ipswich’s goals were gifted after poor defending.
Amorim won’t be overly impressed by United’s performance and he will form a stronger opinion – whether positive or negative – of his players with each passing fixture.
The win leaves United sat 14th in the Premier League.
Rio Ferdinand reveals four Manchester United strugglers
It is clear that United have players not suited to Amorim’s system, but at least none of the players can say they were given a chance under the Portuguese coach.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who won everything as a player at Old Trafford, gave his assessment of the team in the wake of Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory.
Speaking on TNT Sports during a live broadcast, Ferdinand said: “I think if we’re being brutally honest, there hasn’t been the progress that we all anticipated.
“Where he came from, how successful he had been and the silverware he brought to Sporting, the anticipation of him coming was like, ‘Wow! What an opportunity we’ve got now with this young manager,’ and it hasn’t transferred here.”
Ferdinand went on to name four United players who do not suit Amorim’s preferred system.
The 46-year-old added: “I watched Sporting a few times, in Europe especially. There were an athletic, dynamic team. That was one of the staples of that team, the hallmarks of that food team that was winning things.
“If you look at the heartbreat of this team they have other qualities but being physical, having the ability to overrun teams physically – they don’t have that capacity.”
Ferdinand was asked whether Joshua Zirkzee was one of those players who might fight the head coach’s system. He responded: “No… De Ligt, Maguire, Hojlund, it’s not their game.
“So I think he needs to find those type of players with the capabilities of carrying out not only tactically what he wants, but the physicality is equally important.”
Ferdinand questions Manchester United’s recruitment
Last summer, Ineos backed Erik ten Hag in the transfer window after watching his side beat Man City in the FA Cup final.
The Dutchman was sacked midway through the season for poor results and the squad was inherited by Amorim.
It begs the question, would United have made those same signings last summer if the manager had been different? For instance, two of the players Ferdinand mentions as not being able to play in Amorim’s system are new summer signings.
Matthijs de Ligt and Maguire both got on the scoresheet against Ipswich but Ferdinand also mentions Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund in damning assessment.
That is not a good look for the recruitment team and Ineos are doing everything they can to improve that department.
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