Manchester United

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to BBC Sport: "Not a good result but it is a tough league with high intensity. We started very well but should have had more of the ball. But we are learning."

On adapting to his formation: "It was really hard for them, they were thinking what to do, it was not fluid which is normal after just two training sessions but they tried hard. They have so much space to improve. But after a draw you never feel the good things. So I am really happy because they tried but they can do so much better."

On the early goal: "We worked on that but they have the talent to do it, and then it is all about the players."

On Noussair Mazraoui: "We don't have too many centre-backs so we have to adapt some players. I thought Noussair Mazraoui did very well. He is so smart and is so important for us. He can play anywhere and that kind of player is crucial for our future."

On his first taste of the Premier League: "It is a great environment, a great spectacle. But when the game starts it is like I am back in Portugal or the third division. I am so focused everything is the same. You guys are so lucky to have the best league in the world. I am really happy to be here but today I don't feel much because I like to win games."

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Ruben Amorim became only the second permanent manager in Premier League history to see his side score within the opening two minutes of his very first game in charge, along with David Moyes with Everton in March 2002.

However, this was just the second time Manchester United have scored inside the opening two minutes of a Premier League game and failed to win, also drawing 2-2 with Liverpool in October 1995 and losing 1-6 to Tottenham in October 2020.

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Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 12 he takes on The Farm singer and Liverpool fan Peter Hooton.

The Farm's new single, Forever & Ever, is out now and their new album, Let The Music (Take Control), is released in May 2025.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I am guessing this is Ruben Amorim's first visit to Ipswich and it is not the ideal place for him to get started with Manchester United.

Ipswich's win at Tottenham will give them real belief and they have had three draws already at home, so they will be competitive, especially if United are adapting to a new system - a lot of their players are coming back from international duty and have not had time to work with Amorim.

United will have some defending to do because Sammie Szmodics is lively up front and Liam Delap is a handful too - his stats for goal involvements, including assists, is really impressive. Ipswich just need to stop being so careless defensively. If they do that, they could get something from this game.

Everyone else is probably going to put Amorim to start with a win, but I am going for a draw.

After all the excitement and the hype about the apparent upgrade, then it is unthinkable for United to lose to the Tractor Boys, but imagine if they do drop points?

Hooton’s prediction: 1-2

Ipswich got a great result against Spurs but with this being Amorim’s first game, his players are going to be trying to impress him, so I can only see a United win.

Obviously I hope they don't get back to what they were under Sir Alex Ferguson, but wouldn't it be great to have four or five clubs challenging for the title? That would be unbelievable. I am quite happy that United have fallen off a cliff since Ferguson left but, in a way, you want them back so you can win the league ahead of a strong United side.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Ruben Amorim has often been compared to Jose Mourinho given his nationality and success in Portugal, but the new Manchester United boss was keen to play down comparisons when he met the British media on Friday.

Mourinho spent two-and-a-half-years at Old Trafford, winning the League Cup and Europa League following his appointment in 2016. He also sent compatriot Amorim a message to congratulate him on his appointment as successor to Erik ten Hag at United.

"I remember that time," said Amorim, referring to when Mourinho joined Chelsea in 2004 after winning the Champions League with Porto. "You looked at Mourinho and felt he could win everywhere. It's not the same thing. I'm different to Mourinho. He was European champion, I am not.

"Football is different nowadays, I think I am the right person for this moment. I am a young guy and I try to use this to help my players.

"Their young guys were [Frank] Lampard and these kind of players. Nowadays it's so much different. I think I'm the right person for now."

Ruben Amorim's arrival as Manchester United head coach is expected to see tactical changes, including a switch to three at the back. But which players are set to benefit most?

United fan Adam McKola tells The Football News Show why he feels Amorim sticking to his style of football can bring the best out of the likes of Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Dan Roan
Sports editor

This was a highly accomplished and assured first media conference by Ruben Amorim, whose confidence was immediately apparent as he strode purposefully into a packed room at Carrington with a smile and "hi guys" to the assembled journalists, before fielding a host of questions from both English and Portuguese reporters.

This felt very different to the strained and adversarial media conferences that became a weekly feature of the final months of Erik ten Hag's tenure at Old Trafford.

Speaking in fluent English, Amorim seemed to relish the opportunity to articulate how he is feeling. Smiling throughout, he made clear his belief both in himself and in his players, claiming he is "the right guy at the right moment".

But he also acknowledged the scale of the task he faces here after years of decline, and the need for his team to improve. However, he also firmly rejected the suggestion that this was "the impossible job". "Of course not," he said.

He has acknowledged that Manchester United need time and has said that they need to improve. He has also given a reality check about the plans to put in place and the improvement that is required.

As the first managerial hire since Ineos took over the football operations at Old Trafford, a lot is resting on his shoulders. It was noticeable that Tom Crotty, a senior director at the petrochemicals company and a trusted advisor to billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, was in attendance.

However, if the coach was feeling the pressure that comes with that, and from being in one of the most scrutinised coaching roles in world football, he did not show it.

At the end, Amorim embraced several Portuguese reporters who had travelled here to cover his first media appearance.

Whether he forges such close bonds with their British counterparts remains to be seen. But based on this first performance, communication will not be a problem for the coach.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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Manchester United coach Darren Fletcher has been successful in reducing his touchline ban to two matches after being found guilty of misconduct against Brentford on Saturday 19 October.

Fletcher is alleged to have acted in an "improper and/or confrontational manner" and used "abusive and/or insulting words" towards the match officials during the Premier League victory at Old Trafford.

Former midfielder Fletcher admitted to this misconduct, but argued that it was only towards the fourth official and the referee and that he was not abusive.

Having been sanctioned with a three-match touchline ban and £7,500 fine, the independent Appeal Board has subsequently reduced the ban by one game and the fine down to £6,000.

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New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says that while journalists and pundits may not think it is possible for the Red Devils to win the Premier League title under him in the future, he has full belief in himself, his staff and his players to make that dream a reality.

Speaking at his first news conference as United boss, on Friday, the 39-year-old said: "I’m a little bit of a dreamer. I believe in myself. I believe in the club - we have the same mindset. I truly believe in the players. I know you don’t believe a lot but I do. I want to try new things.

"You guys don’t think it’s possible, I do."

The former Sporting Lisbon manager arrived in Manchester on 11 November, following the sacking of Erik ten Hag.

Asked where he thought he might need to "repair" the United squad, Amorim dismissed the suggestion his players needed fixing.

"I don’t know about repair." he replied. "We have space to grow as a team. We have to improve in a lot of areas. I know it’s a different way of playing and we are changing the way we play.

"We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don’t know how long it will take. I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it’s a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try and win the title.

"It's not revolution. The football is not so different with five at the back, four at the back, three at the back. It’s not evolution or revolution, it’s a change in the way we play football."

Amorim takes charge of United for the first time on Sunday, at Ipswich Town (16:30 GMT).

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Ipswich Town (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On his arrival and how it has compared to his expectations: "It’s bigger - you feel here’s a global club. There’s so much to do not just coaching the team. I’ve had a lot of help. I feel at home."

• On where he sees scope for improvement at United: "We have to improve in a lot of areas. We are changing the way we play. We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don’t know how long it will take. I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it’s a tough league. We have to improve a lot to try and win the title.

• On what needs to change: "Simple things I think. We lose the ball too often, we have to be better at running back and we have to be very good in the details. We have to improve the small things. Understanding the small things, I think is what I'm good at."

• On receiving a message from former United boss Jose Mourinho: "He said it’s a big club, a lovely club with lovely people - and he’s correct. It still is. We are building a new club. I am a different guy. I hope to teach something different here to my players. It’s the best club in England and we want to win - that’s all."

• On recruitment: "We have to improve the process. I want to have a strong position on that because of how I want to play. It should be together but I think the manager should get the final say. I have a great responsibility when we choose players because that is something that should be done in this way - I should be able to choose the players."

• On whether managing United is the impossible job: "Of course not. I truly believe that. Call me naive [but] I truly believe I’m the right guy for the right moment. I’m not worried about that."

• On how he will implement his playing style upon the players he is inheriting: "As a coach, you have to choose one way or another. I always, 100%, our way. I prefer to risk but push in the first moment. Since the first moment, I believe so much in our way of playing - there’s no second way. We will adapt some players because we don’t have the right profiles as this squad was set up for a different system. When you see the team on Sunday, it will be similar players, but in the game it will be different."

Follow all of Friday Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news here

Full commentary of Ipswich Town v Manchester United from 16:30 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball believes a trip to Portman Road will be a "test" for new Manchester United head coach, as the Portuguese boss prepares to take charge of the Reds for the first time on Sunday, against Ipswich Town (16:30 GMT).

Speaking on the Football Daily podcast's The Commentator's View, Bruce-Ball said: "Ipswich are coming into it on the back of winning away at Tottenham.

"Portman Road has been absolutely bouncing for every home game this season and I actually think it will be quite a test for Manchester United.

"Funnily enough, Arne Slot started at Portman Road, just like Ruben Amorim is going to start at Portman Road.

"Liverpool won that game 2-0. I looked back at Pep Guardiola's first game in charge when they beat Sunderland 2-1 through a Paddy McNair own goal."

John Murray recalls the buzz around former United manager Erik ten Hag when he took charge of the Reds back in 2022, indicating that the sentiment around the Dutchman was similar to that which surrounds their new head coach now.

"Do you remember that the optimism for Erik ten Hag was quite high, wasn't it?" he said.

"People might forget that because of everything that happened and the way the exit has occurred this season.

"But there was quite high optimism for when Erik ten Hag was starting."

Listen to the full episodes on BBC Sounds

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes new Manchester United Ruben Amorim has "the energy they need" to succeed, starting at Ipswich on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Sounds' Planet Premier League podcast, Onuoha said there has been a real uptick in the optimism at Old Trafford.

"When a new face comes in with positivity and isn't jaded by being pressed by the media there's hope and the potential for joy," he said. "That's the energy that they need.

"It's the change that has been on the cards for the last year."

Listen to Planet Premier League in full on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are ready to compete with Real Madrid for the signing of Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman. The 27-year-old Nigeria international could be targeted in the summer. (Caught Offside), external

United are also keen to re-sign England midfielder Angel Gomes, 24, on a free transfer when his contract at Lille expires next summer. (Mail), external

Finally, the Red Devils have also contacted Paris St-Germain over the possibility of signing France international striker Randal Kolo Muani, 25, on loan in January. (Le 10 Sport - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column