Kieran McKenna believes this weekend's Premier League match between Ipswich Town and Manchester United will be the “biggest game in world football”.
United will be in action for the first time under new manager Ruben Amorim since the Portuguese officially replaced Arne Slot as head coach.
While there is a lot of focus on the visitors at Portman Road, Ipswich are excited after beating Tottenham 2-1 before the international break.
That was Ipswich's first league win of the season – and their first in the Premier League for 22 years – and now attention turns to the showdown with United.
McKenna, who previously coached United, said at a fan event this week: “Sunday, what a game. It's one we're really, really looking forward to.
“Not because of the personal connection, but to be on that stage as manager of Ipswich Town, that's what we worked so hard for.
“It's the biggest game in the world in football this weekend, the biggest game in the world in the biggest sport in the world and it's at Portman Road.”
Ipswich's surprise win over Tottenham last time out lifted them to 17th, while United are 13th after a 3-0 win over Leicester City in Ruud van Nistelrooy's last match in charge.
Amorim completed his first training session on Monday, albeit with many first-team stars on international duty, and the former Sporting CP boss believes his playing style will be clear from the start.
“I think you will see an idea,” he told the club's website. “You may like it or not, I don't know, but you will see an idea.” You will see a positioning. You'll see something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that. 'We need to know that it is so [only] two training sessions before the first match. This is the best competition in the world. But if I have to tell you something, [it’s that] you will see an idea. I can guarantee this.”
v Ipswich Town.Portman Road.16:30 GMT.
We will be there.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/0eHCSDYmhE
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ipswich Town – Liam Delap
Delap scored what proved to be Ipswich's winner against Tottenham and has now scored six of his side's 12 Premier League goals this season.
That makes the Manchester City academy player one of only three players to have scored at least half of his side's goals in the league this season, along with Erling Haaland at City (55%) and Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest (53%).
Manchester United – Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho was one of the scorers against Leicester two weeks ago and has now been directly involved in twenty Premier League goals for United (13 goals and seven assists).
The Argentina international is one of only two non-British players to reach that number for United before turning 21, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (25 goals).
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
Ipswich are aiming for back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since February 2022, with that run also starting with a 2-1 win against Tottenham.
The Tractor Boys are the only team in the competition without a home win this season. Only five promoted clubs have failed to win any of their first six home games, all of which were losses.
United, meanwhile, have won 17 of their past 19 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents, including nine straight away victories.
The Red Devils were 1-0 winners on their most recent league trip to Portman Road in April 2022, but only once have they won consecutive league games away to Ipswich.
However, the Tractor Boys have lost four of their last five league matches against Man United and failed to score in any of those defeats.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Ipswich town – 22.2%
Draw – 23%
Manchester United – 54.8%
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