Past and present will meet on Sunday afternoon as Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United take on Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town as the Premier League resumes after a two week break.
And to think, the man in the home dugout at Portman Road could, had things worked out differently, be gearing himself up for an emotional return to the club he dragged back into the promised land after over two decades away.
It is no secret that Manchester United held talks with Kieran McKenna back in May about a potential return to Old Trafford for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former assistant coach. Of course, that is as far as things went.
McKenna opted to finish what he started at Ipswich. Premier League survival the latest challenge he is facing head on at a club who was struggling in England’s third tier when he arrived in East Anglia.
Manchester United, meanwhile, opted to hand Erik ten Hag the chance to redeem himself before his position became untenable a few months later.
So, as Ipswich prepare to host the Red Devils for the first time since Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner back in April 2002, it is Ruben Amorim who will be going head to head with another manager who appeared prominently on that list of potential Ten Hag replacements.
A manager Amorim, by his own admission, rates very highly indeed.
Ruben Amorim hails Kieran McKenna ahead of Manchester United’s Ipswich trip
The former Sporting coach is not afraid to talk about his influences – Ruben Amorim spoke warmly about Jose Mourinho’s impact on Portuguese football on Friday – and he admits that McKenna has also thought up a few tactical innovations United’s new head coach may look to try out himself.
“Of course, [McKenna] did a great job. I think he’s very smart and you can understand all the tactical changes he uses, especially against Tottenham,” Amorim enthuses, via the Man United website. “You can understand the idea.
“Sometimes, I look at that idea and think I will do the same, you know? So I think he is a very smart, very intelligent manager. It will be fun [to face him].”
While still 17th in the table with only one win to their name, Ipswich’s performances against some of the Premier League’s bigger hitters will give The Tractor Boys a sense of belief as Man United come to town.
Ipswich took a point off Aston Villa, opened the scoring at Man City, and ran Liverpool close. McKenna also masterminded a surprise 2-1 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with Amorim full of praise for the way Ipswich hassled and harried Ange Postecoglou’s team into submission.
Ruben Amorim discusses Ipswich’s shock Tottenham victory
“I think this league is amazing because of that,” Amorim adds when pressed on Ipswich’s shock triumph in North London. “You can win everywhere, you can lose everywhere. So we know its going to be a tough game.
“But we have an idea how to play, and I truly believe we are going to win.”
Man United should have Leny Yoro available to make his belated Red Devils debut, while Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount are also ready to go after lay-offs of their own.
Ruben Amorim has big plans for Luke Shaw too, though he is understandably wary of rushing the Englishman back before he is ready.
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