RUBEN AMORIM was caught playfully SLAPPING Manchester United players in a bizarre training session ahead of his Old Trafford debut.
But United fans were excited to finally see some joy return to Carrington – as many begged the new boss to go “easy on Luke Shaw” – who made his long-awaited return from injury last weekend.
After a disappointing 1-1 draw at Ipswich, Amorim told Sky Sports on Sunday: “I just want to spend time with my players.”
And the Portuguese tactician is clearly fitting into his new role at United, as Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire returned to training.
Amorim and his coaching staff were waiting for his first team squad to arrive on the training pitches in the winter cold on Wednesday.
The players, who smiled as they entered the gates, then gathered to form a tunnel to create room for their team-mates to run through.
The group could be seen laughing and joking before Amorim turned to push Kobbie Mainoo backwards.
The former Sporting manager then lovingly launched at Martinez – who was darting away for cover.
A beaming Shaw appeared to joke with his new boss before Amorim lovingly urged him off to join Martinez at the start of the line.
It seems as though Amorim was getting his long-term injured players to run through the group as a sort-of initiation to welcome them back into the fold.
Martinez, Shaw, Maguire and a host of players began running through the man-made tunnel as their team-mates in line jokingly slapped them.
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Shaw played his first United minutes since February against Ipswich as he replaced Jonny Evans at left centre-back inside 59 minutes.
Martinez suffered a knock during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final game in charge, and Maguire has been out since leaving Villa Park in a plastic boot when Erik ten Hag was still at the helm.
But fans were quick to spot how close the group have become ahead of United’s Europa League tie with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.
One wrote: “Needs to be careful with Luke Shaw, could put him out for the rest of the season with those shoves .”
A second said: “I’m definitely feeling he’s going to bond the squad stronger here.
Another added: “Amorim’s more connected with the players due to his younger age.”
While a fourth wrote: “Stop pushing Shaw, he’s gonna get hurt!”
A fifth replied: “This club needs more chemistry, and he is trying to build it.”
One more wrote: “It’s heartwarming to watch.”
IN theory at least, the only way is up for Manchester United, writes Charlie Wyett.
We are nearly a third of the way through this Premier League season and it is still staggering to see United lurking in 12th place.
They have managed just four wins with a goal difference of 0. Only Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored less.
It is certainly not a false position and a point at Ipswich illustrated the massive job that Ruben Amorim faces.
United’s fans sang the name of their new manager throughout the game.
They also gave the players rapturous applause on the final whistle and although this was an improvement on some of the performances this season, the bar has been set pretty low.
The club’s optimistic supporters will see that their team is only six points off the top four. Ultimately, though, it is difficult to see United even reaching last season’s final position of eighth as they look worse.
United’s patched-up defence will improve – and a three-man formation at the back will help them – but you have to wonder where the goals are going to come from. Marcus Rashford struck after 81 seconds and then went missing for the rest of his 68 minutes on the pitch.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were also introduced in that double change midway inside the second half but added absolutely nothing. What a terrible couple of signings they have proved to be and United’s fans would swap both of them for Ipswich’s Liam Delap.
Amorim did not celebrate the Rashford goal and paced around his technical area throughout looking uneasy.
Each time there was a break in play, he called over players for instructions.
Alejandro Garnacho headed over to the touchline on a couple of occasions while there were also words for Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and Jonny Evans.
Amorim, a manager with infectious enthusiasm, will be hopeful he can get his message across to all of the players in the next few weeks.
But the problem for the Portuguese coach is that this was the first of 10 games in the space of 33 days.
What he really needs are spells on the training ground without a midweek game but he does not have that luxury.
United will welcome 12 per cent of an entire town’s population on Thursday.
The away side, who were beaten twice by Arsenal in 2022, are bringing 6,500 fans to the ground for the huge clash.
That is out of the town’s 53,000 population, meaning one eighth of everyone living there will be attending the match.
While Maguire isn’t considered fit enough to get straight back into playing after a longer absence, Martinez could feature.
Amorim said: “Licha is ready. He didn’t stop playing for too much time so I feel he is ready.
“It is a different situation with Harry, we need them both but they are in a different situation.
“They are both training, Harry soon will be on the pitch also.”
MANCHESTER UNITED began the Ruben Amorim era with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich.
Marcus Rashford needed just 81 seconds to put the Red Devils in front at Portman Road, tapping home an Amad Diallo cross.
But Ipswich hit back when Omari Hutchinson’s strike flew in via a deflection off Noussair Mazraoui.
And it was the newly-promoted side who looked likelier to get a winner in the second half.
Here is how SunSport’s Charlie Wyett saw the performances of the Man Utd players…
ANDRE ONANA – 7/10
United’s best player. Two key stops to deny Liam Delap but no chance for the deflected Omari Hutchinson goal.
Then delivered an 87th minute save to keep out an effort from Conor Chaplin.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 5
Slotted in on the right of the three-man defence but unfortunate with the deflection for the goal.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 5
Has been suspect this season and will probably be better suited to a back three although still given a tough time by Delap.
JONNY EVANS – 5
The 36-year-old was targeted by Ipswich for his lack of pace and no surprise he was replaced.
AMAD DIALLO – 6
Did incredibly well to bomb past Jens Cajuste and deliver the cross for Rashford’s early goal but offered little else.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 5
Some nice touches going forward but too lightweight in this position in front of the back three.
CASEMIRO – 4
Lucky to start ahead of Manuel Ugarte and was really poor.
Struggled throughout before being subbed and could maybe have got a block to the Hutchinson shot.
DIOGO DALOT – 5
Not suited to left wing-back although stayed there when Luke Shaw arrived because the English international replaced Evans in the back three.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 5
Some of his link-up play was fine but United need a captain who can inspire this team and Fernandes is not the man.
Sent a free-kick flashing past the post with 12 minutes left.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
Twice called over by Ruben Amorim in the first half for instructions.
Denied by a decent save from Aro Muric 50 seconds into the second half.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 6
Criticised for his basketball trip to New York so to score after 80 seconds was two fingers up at his critics – but did not offer much after that.
Subs
Ugarte (for Casemiro 56 mins) – 6
Shaw (for Evans 56 mins) – 6
Hojlund (for Rashford 67 mins) – 5
Zirkzee ( for Eriksen 67 mins) – 5
Mount (for Garnacho 87 mins) – 5
