FLICK THE SWITCH

RUBEN AMORIM gave Manchester United five out of ten for Sunday’s performance at Ipswich.

The coach looked frustrated as the Red Devils struggled in the 1-1 draw — his first game in charge — against the Premier League new boys.

Amorim delivered his verdict on the average display in the Portman Road dressing room, where he also revealed he was blown away by the intensity of the top flight.

A source said: “Amorim said their performance was a five out of ten.

“He was impressed with Ipswich and thought the game was played at an incredible intensity.

“But he added that it showed just how much United need to improve.”

Former Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim, who replaced axed Erik ten Hag as boss this month, is realistic about the major task ahead of him.

But he warned his players that they must improve and learn quickly.

The Portuguese, 39, acknowledged that if 18th-placed Ipswich are one of the Prem’s lesser teams, then it showed the job he has on his hands to turn Man Utd’s fortunes around.

The source added: “He was critical of one or two players for losing the ball and not being in the right positions.

“But he also said, ‘Some of you I’ve had for two days, some two weeks’, so he was realistic.

“He did say they were going to have to learn quickly.”

Meanwhile, presenter of our brilliant new YouTube show Tactics Exposed, Dean Scoggins gives a tactical rundown of Amorim’s first game.

FORMATION CLEAR

As expected, Amorim went for his tried and tested 3-4-3 formation. Rashford led the line with two ‘inside forwards’ playing around him.

The three defenders were very much centre-backs and were very structured — especially when playing out from the back.

The system relies on a huge amount of running from the wing-backs and midfield two.

Perhaps surprisingly, it was Noussair Mazraoui chosen in defence with Diogo Dalot then at left wing-back.

It is obvious this is the system Amorim believes in.

Despite the early goal, there was still a lack of creativity but he has had just a week on the training ground.

Amorim said: “The system is not the concern, everyone is talking about it — but it’s the players understanding how were are going to play, not their positions.”

MIDFIELD STRUGGLES

Amorim started with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the centre of the field.

Despite them clearly being drilled to stay close and work together, they were caught numerous times in transition and looked short of legs to play in these roles.

The two experienced players looked unsure if they were pushing up behind their attacking players, or sitting deep in front of the defence and Ipswich’s best moments in the first half came from those two being neither up or back.

It looked far more natural when Manuel Ugarte came on and was later partnered by Bruno Fernandes, they worked better as a pair and pressed higher to put more pressure on the Town midfield.

IMPERFECT 10s

The role Amorim wants his ‘inside forwards’ to play is not quite as a No10.. but these are the playmakers.

Four players got the chance to be in those positions and none of them really made an impact on the game.

Amorim said his players were ‘thinking too much’ and that was clear as they didn’t have an instinctive view on when to run in behind and when to drop deep to receive the ball.

The Portuguese coach likes these players to be ‘different’ in that one is more of a traditional No10 and the other makes runs in behind.

Garnacho made lots of runs but was barely found, Bruno linked play well in the early stages but was often touching the ball in deep areas that gave no danger to Ipswich.

Amorim brought on Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount as fresh legs in these positions but with little joy.

It will be these positions that take the most work.

AMAD WORLD

Ivorian winger Amad got a new position at right wing-back.

Again, Amorim likes to have different profiles of player on each side and Amad is the direct runner, whilst Dalot is more of a traditional full-back and cuts inside on his right foot from left wing-back.

HOJLUND v RASHFORD

The No9 position is going to be hotly debated, it’s clear that this player has to work VERY hard, running the channels and creating space for the other forwards around him.

Obviously Rashford got the dream start – but it went quickly downhill from there and he struggled physically and to get back into the game.

Hojlund looked a far more natural fit for what Amorim wants.. this player must come to feet, be physical with centre-backs and then spin and get in the box for crosses.. more of an old-school No9. — Sun.