“Ruben Amorim being the manager, he saw it as well” - Gary Neville highlights ‘red flags’ in Manchester United display against Ipswich
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has pointed out the issues with the Red Devils in their 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town on Sunday (November 24). This outing marked new head coach Ruben Amorim's first game in charge of the Manchester outfit following Erik ten Hag's sacking.
In this match, Ipswich, who were at home, registered the same number of attempts as their visitors (11) but had more shots on target (six and four). Claiming that Kieran McKenna's side looked better coached, Neville told Sky Sports (via The Standard):
"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."
He added:
“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.”
"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."
“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 may have to work on these issues to help Manchester United out of the bottom half of the league standings. They're currently 12th and six points short of the top four.
Manchester United eyeing a move for Bundesliga striker - Reports
If Manchester United are to make a comeback in the second half of the season, they will need to find an answer to their goalscoring issues. At the moment, the Red Devils have managed the joint fewest strikes along with Newcastle United for teams in the top 12 of the Premier League (13).
Hence, it isn't surprising to see Ruben Amorim's side linked with a host of strikers ahead of the January transfer window. Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg now says that Manchester United are looking to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface (via United in Focus).
This transfer will not be cheap, with the Nigeria international contracted with his employers till the summer of 2028. Along with Boniface, the Red Devils have been linked with other number nines, including Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres.
