Ruben Amorim equals 22-year Premier League record but joins unwanted Man United list with draw at Ipswich Town
Today at 01:32 PM
Manchester United’s new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start before settling for a draw at Ipswich Town.
The Portuguese manager made a flying start to life in the Premier League as Marcus Rashford scored after just 81 seconds of the clash that finished 1-1.
Amorim has become only the second permanent Premier League manager ever to see his side score within two minutes of their first game.
Ironically, he follows another former United manager in David Moyes, who enjoyed similar success – but at Everton.
The Scot watched David Unsworth grab an early goal inside 30 seconds en route to the Toffees’ 2-1 win over Fulham in March 2002.
Over 22 years and a failed Old Trafford stint later, Amorim has joined him in the record books after Rashford struck at Portman Road.
However, he has become the latest United boss after Ruud van Nistelrooy, Erik ten Hag, Michael Carrick and Louis van Gaal to not win his first Premier League match in charge of the club.
Omari Hutchinson levelled the scoring shortly before half-time with an excellent strike, his first goal in the English top flight.
Amorim’s tactical prowess instantly paid dividends as Amad Diallo, operating in an unorthodox wing-back role, turned provider with a low cross for Rashford, although it wasn’t enough for the win.
Despite this, it was a rewarding bit of faith from the boss in Rashford, who was trusted to lead the line after making headlines in midweek.
He and teammate Casemiro came in for surprise criticism from Gary Neville for flying to America during the international break.
The 27-year-old was pictured watching Friday’s NBA clash between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville explained: “The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you're best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season.
“He has got a mental break, he's got to get away and has got to rest with friends – then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what's the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?
“This is on Casemiro more than Rashford but if I'm 30 years old and I'm looking after my body – and he's won five Champions Leagues and is an unbelievable player.
“But if he was away with Brazil for 10 days, we would say he would struggle this weekend because he's been away.
“They have chosen that international break. If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn't the best choice of venue.”
Neville later interviewed Amorim ahead of his first Premier League game, and the ex-Sporting gaffer came out in support of Rashford.
Amorim explained: “I think the main question here is that us, as a club, have to set the standards and have to manage that.
“It is my decision if they can have five days [off], three days or three days to rest, you cannot fly.
“This is something that us, as a club, have to decide. For me? Yes for sure [he would have banned them].
“We cannot put this on the players. They [United] told them they can have five days off so they can fly anywhere because nobody at the club says you cannot fly.”
Rashford delivered the perfect response on the pitch, with only his second Premier League goal of the campaign.
The England international has now scored as many top-flight goals under Amorim as he had done under Ten Hag since the March international break.
However, Rashford’s goal wasn’t enough for Amorim to seal a debut win at the Premier League giants.
Ipswich deserved to take a point on the balance of play and could have won the match themselves had it not been for a series of top saves from Andre Onana.
