Winners & losers from Amorim’s first game: 2 starlets impressed & 1 left fuming

Ruben Amorim's Manchester United era has arrived and his welcome to the Premier League saw the newly appointed Old Trafford boss get to grips with his new side in the draw against Ipswich.

The 39-year-old former Sporting Lisbon boss was only able to train with United's underperforming players for a few days ahead of Sunday's visit to Portman Road and was modest in his expectations after the match.

Amorim has openly revealed he plans to stick with his favored 3-4-3 system after inheriting a team that lost its way during the last few weeks of Erik ten Hag and the Portuguese's chaotic reign is already trying to determine his best team.

An openly honest post-match assessment came after Amorim watched his United side throw away their lead against a brave and fighting Ipswich opposition, telling supporters they had to see the team 'suffer' before things got better.

Some United stars fared better than others in Amorim's first match as they were held to a draw by Kieran McKenna's side.

Here, Mail Sport analyzes Man United's top winners and losers after Amorim's first taste of English football.

WINNERS

André Onana

Much has been made of Onana's future at Old Trafford with Amorim in charge despite the goalkeeper being one of United's best players in a dismal start to the season.

The Cameroonian was brought to the club last year after Ten Hag made the brutal decision to offload long-term goalkeeper David de Gea and endured a torrid start to life in Manchester.

Onana admitted he needed time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and now appears to have done so as Amorim gets a first look at the shot-stopper against Ipswich and shone with a man-of-the- match display.

Make no mistake, Amorim would have suffered defeat without the 28-year-old's stunning interventions, denying Liam Delap with a brilliant save in the first half.

His excellent reactionary stops, combined with neat ballplay and willingness to step into United's back three when in possession, will have caught Amorim's attention, with Onana already showing his new boss that he deserves to to become number one.

Amad Diallo

United Chiefs spent £37 million for a then-unproven Amad in 2021, and the winger finally looks set to live up to the hype surrounding his arrival.

It has not been an easy journey to the first team for the Ivorian, who has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland but has continued to be kept on the fringes of the first team under Ten Hag.

The 22-year-old has shown the willingness and tenacity that will be vital under Amorim, now performing consistently and has been one of United's top players at Portman Road in a full-back role.

Deployed in a new position he has not played before, Amad often came out on top in his battles with Leif Davis, showing both his determination and skill to provide an assist for Marcus Rashford's goal after he had jumped over the flank.

Amorim praised the rising star after the match. Amad will now hope that his days on the bench will be a distant memory.

Alejandro Garnacho

Loved by Cristiano Ronaldo during the icon's second season at the club and now adored by fans, it is no surprise that Amorim is also singing Garnacho's praises after a strong performance against Ipswich.

The left-wing position at United has been Rashford's for years and when Garnacho first came through under Ten Hag it looked like it would be the Argentinian who would have to find a new role.

But his excellent performances over the past year – along with being United's top scorer in the Premier League this season – have seen him cemented a starting position, although he was used in an unfamiliar role against Ipswich.

Like some of his teammates, Garnacho could be seen trying to figure out where to be positioned in Amorim's new system at times, but that will come with time under the new manager.

Garnacho still lacks some of the clinical decision-making that comes with experience, but could be a player crucial to Amorim's plans for success at Old Trafford as he fights for one of the attacking spots in the 3-4-3- system.

LOSERS

Christian Eriksen

Statistically, Eriksen has been one of United's best players this season, but it was still a surprise to see him start alongside Casemiro – and it will be an even bigger surprise if he retains his place for Thursday's Europa League match against Bodo /Shiny.

The Dane kept his place next to Casemiro in midfield, where – despite a few neat passes – he ultimately struggled with the intensity with which Amorim wants his midfielders to play.

Eriksen has never been blessed with speed, but often negates that problem by being quick in his decision-making and excellent in his use of the ball.

But against Ipswich the 32-year-old looked every bit his age at times and was often caught out of position as the hosts piled their bodies forward, while United's defense was unlocked on numerous occasions.

He joined in the 68th minute and was able to benefit from a spell on the touchline. Likely to make way for Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte when deemed fit enough to start.

Joshua Zirkzee

Players new to the Premier League are often given time by even rival supporters, but Zirkzee is seriously struggling and a 20-minute performance against Ipswich did little to boost his confidence.

The Dutchman scored on his debut in United's season-opener at Fulham, but since then he has looked like a player who won't be good enough to make it at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

United needed pace, energy and a willingness to get to match level when Zirkzee was introduced in the 68th minute, but he failed to deliver on these measures and instead looked lost in the number 10 role.

Amorim did not hide his frustration with Zirkzee's performance and warned the former Bologna star after the match, saying: 'You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front. Sometimes you feel like you can't keep the ball with you [have to] put the ball in front.

'Then you have the feeling that at the end of the match we were standing around the penalty area with two strikers. Josh [Zirkzee] must understand that he has to go to the coffin to get the crosses.'

Rasmus Hojlund

The young Dane has already shown he can score in the Premier League with 16 goals in all competitions in his debut season, but under Amorim he now needs to show he can be United's main striker.

Amorim left Sporting with Victor Gyokeres, who starred as one of Europe's most prolific goalscorers, and now at United he must now perform the same miracles with Hojlund, who started on Rashford's bench in a sole striker role.

The two players share similar traits and it was hoped Hojlund's second-half debut against Ipswich would put pressure on the hosts' defense but instead proved easy to handle.

A particularly frustrating moment occurred when Hojlund rolled the ball into the feet with his back to goal, but instead of trying to get the defender to turn and create a shooting angle, opted to pass back.

Granted, Hojlund has seen his season disrupted by injuries, but he won't have long to prove himself against Amorim, who will demand more from his only recognized striker.