Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna admitted that Ruben Amorim’s tactical adjustments at Manchester United posed significant challenges during their 1-1 draw at Portman Road on Sunday.
Amorim, known for his 3-4-3 formation, had limited preparation time with United after the international break, with only two full training sessions to implement his ideas.
Despite the short timeline, his tactical setup showed promise, with United taking an early lead through Marcus Rashford, assisted brilliantly by Amad Diallo, who started as a right wing-back.
Amorim’s approach unsettled Ipswich in the opening minutes, as McKenna later acknowledged. The unexpected use of wing-backs, including Diogo Dalot on the left, created confusion for Ipswich’s defensive setup.
McKenna Reflects on a Balanced Contest
In his post-match press conference as revealed by Manchester Evening News, McKenna admitted that while Ipswich grew stronger in the first half, the second half saw United regain control in certain phases.
‘it was hard to be certain’ about the positioning of United’s players after Amorim’s changes.’
“I think we certainly could have won it. We were the better team in the first half overall. As the half went on, we grew in ascendancy and went into half-time in real dominance,” McKenna noted.
However, he acknowledged United’s improvement after the break.
“The second half, Man United had some good periods of control. We had to defend on shape and show good discipline, though we still created a couple of big chances to win it.”
McKenna highlighted the importance of not letting the game slip away after conceding early.
“When you concede an early goal to Man United with the motivation they were playing with today, the game could also get away from you. The main positive is it didn’t, and we were morally competitive through the game.”
Preparation Challenges for Ipswich
McKenna also touched on the difficulties in preparing for a game against a team undergoing tactical changes, especially after the international break.
“It was a challenge for us going into it in terms of preparation. There were certain things you could predict, but certain things not. That made it tough.”
While Ipswich managed to secure a point, McKenna’s comments suggest his side faced one of their toughest tactical tests yet this season.
