Ruben Amorim delivers Man Utd verdict after special Old Trafford welcome in Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt

Ruben Amorim was moved by his special welcome to Old Trafford and said he is already feeling at home after overseeing a nail-biting first win as Manchester United head coach.

After starting his reign with the 1-1 Premier League draw against promoted Ipswich, the 39-year-old Portuguese led the side for the first time on home soil in Thursday's Europa League group victory over Norway's Bodo/Glimt.

United got off to a thrilling start as Alejandro Garnacho took advantage of goalkeeper Nikita Haikin's early error before Bodo took a shock lead through goals from Hakon Evjen and Philip Zinckernagel.

Rasmus Hojlund equalized with a lovely volley just before half-time and scored again shortly after half-time, securing a 3-2 win and Amorim's first win on his first appearance at Old Trafford.

“It was special because half the stadium doesn't know me,” said the United head coach. “You can say I'm from Portugal, but half the stadium doesn't know me.

“I haven't done anything for this club yet, but the way they supported me in the beginning made me feel like I wasn't alone.

“I am now one of them and it was very special. I hope not to disappoint my supporters.

“I think we have improved several things since the last game. I know it is a different competition, a different team, but we are improving with the ball.

“We control the tempo more with the ball, we push the team a little higher, we create more chances.

“We have to finish the game before the end. You're dealing with two transitions. I think we have to improve on that because it was like runs, it was like something physical, one against one.

“You have to improve on that, but I like some of the things the team did today.”

Amorim on how Hojlund needs to improve

Amorim made six changes from Sunday's Premier League draw in Ipswich, including inserting Hojlund into the starting line-up.

The 21-year-old has failed to shine consistently since joining from Atalanta in 2023, doubling his season's tally with a pair of impressive results against Bodo.

“I think he improved the connection,” Amorim said of Hojlund. “I think he needs to improve even more because sometimes he makes too many touches when he holds the ball.

“But it is very important for us because when we are in the low block he is the man who holds the ball. He connects for transitions. He did that very well, he has those qualities.”

“He was aggressive in the goals, he was aggressive in the penalty area and he is a quality player.

“I think he scores the most difficult goals, so he still has a lot to improve, as with any player, but he did a great job today.”

How Amorim adapted to win his first match

Zinny Boswell from Sky Sports:

Amorim warned that his team would have to suffer as they adapted to his new system and that came to fruition against Bodo/Glimt as the Norwegian champions exposed some glaring holes.

Although the team's pressing was much more impressive with Hojlund and Mason Mount in the front three, there were problems further back in defence.

Amorim wants his right and left centre-backs to move forward to win the ball high in midfield, but the other players seemed unclear as to what their responsibilities were at these moments.

Before Evjen's precise equalizer, Mazraoui had pressed to try and win the ball back, forcing Ugarte to cover, leaving a hole at the edge of the penalty area that should have been filled by Bruno Fernandes, who played further back then operated in Ipswich.

It was too late when he realized how much space there was on the edge of the penalty area for Evjen, who found the top corner.

For the second, Lisandro Martinez was deep in the opposition half, leaving Tyrell Malacia one-on-one against Zinckernagel. The returning defender, who had a lead, was left for dead. All it took was a long ball over the top to expose the hole.

Hojlund's first goal, the equalizer that made it 2-2, was an example of this strategy working perfectly. United were high up the pitch and lost the ball, but Mazraoui stepped up to intercept and, as provider, ended the action.

Diogo Dalot was brought on for Malacia during the break, making his first appearance for United in 550 days after being exposed in Bodo's second.

United maintained possession in the back three, Dalot almost coming in at number 10, but reverted to a back four without the ball to address the issues that led to the Norwegian champions picking apart the hosts in the first half.

Things were not smooth sailing from then on, but United had improved considerably. Amorim is struggling with teething problems, but showed enough adaptability to cross the line for his first victory.