“If he really want to triumph in England, then he must change that particular thing immediately”: Pep Guardiola advised Ruben Amorim to change on particular thing if he really want to succeed in England

In his first game as manager, Roy Keane made a lighthearted remark about how he would rather Manchester United play with a different system than the one Ruben Amorim had put in place. But when the United great saw a concerning tendency in the team, he was most definitely not laughing.

Against Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday, Amorim was leading United for the first time. With an early goal inside two minutes, Marcus Rashford set up the ideal start, but the home team managed to progressively fight their way into the game and equalize in the 43rd minute.

Ipswich dominated the efforts on goal with seven to the visitors’ five, and the first half concluded with an identical 50 percent possession split between the two teams.

At halftime, Sky Sports commentator Keane responded to the implication that McKenna’s team was brave by saying: “But when you’re playing against Man United, there is nothing to be afraid of.” They get off to a fantastic start, Man United is taking it easy, and I’m thinking, “What are you waiting for? Go for it. Ipswich deserved their equalizer, so you sit back and cheer them a lot.

In the few period that Amorim has been able to collaborate with the team, they have clearly been unable to overcome this criticism, which was one of the squad’s grievances during the final days of Erik ten Hag’s rule.

The new manager, predictably, ordered United to adopt a new 3-4-3 configuration. Surprises included Amad Diallo playing as a right full-back, Rashford leading the line when he had previously played more prominently from the left, and the selection of Johnny Evans and Noussair Mazraoui as two of the three central defenders.

When asked what he thought of the system, Keane smiled and said, “I’d go back to a 4-4-2.” Little man, big attacker up front. Yes, why not?