Gary Neville has revealed some of the “red flags” he saw while watching Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge of Manchester United.
The new era dawned in fairly underwhelming fashion for the Red Devils on Sunday following a 1-1 draw with Ipswich as Amorim began life in a Premier League dugout.
Marcus Rashford had given United a dream start by turning in Amad Diallo’s cross within the opening two minutes but Omari Hutchinson’s deflected strike gave the hosts a much-deserved equaliser before the break.
United then had goalkeeper Andre Onana to thank for a string of top saves as United left with a point to continue a largely miserable season thus far.
These are early days in the Amorim era of course and perhaps judgement should be reserved until further down the line.
The 39-year-old admitted his side looked “confused” at times in adapting to his preferred 3-4-3 system while claiming United would “suffer” over the coming weeks and months as he looks to stamp his authority on the squad.
Still, former United captain Roy Keane, branded his old club as an “average Premier League team”.
It will be fascinating to see what Amorim can do with a squad who have consistently underperformed in recent seasons and Neville believes there are some concerns.
Asked about some of the “red flags” he saw in the performance at Ipswich, the United legend told Sky Sports: “The red flags that were there yesterday would have been there probably for the last few months and the last season and a half of a team that are very difficult to actually like watching.
“And I say that with respect because I genuinely do believe what Ruben Amorim said at the end of the game. No football player goes out onto the pitch and wants to lose or doesn't want to win or work hard or do well.
“They don't want criticism. But you watch them play, even yesterday, the new system, and you look at Ipswich, who are very near the bottom of the league, who look more organized, better coached. They look like they've got more appetite for the game, more enthusiasm.”
Neville added: “That's a constant and has been a constant, not just obviously on Sunday, but a constant for the last year and a half, two years, three years. So we got to a situation where these group of players, to be honest with you, have created a pattern for themselves and become what they are.
“And not just a red flag yesterday, because the same things that we've seen in the last six to eight months, ten months, we saw yesterday with Ruben Amorim being the manager, he saw it as well.”
Amorim’s side are back in action on Thursday when they host Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League before entertaining Everton on Sunday.
