Ruben Amorim names first Man Utd XI as new boss springs selection surprise and Luke Shaw back on bench
RUBEN AMORIM’S first Manchester United XI has seen him appear to STICK with Erik ten Hag’s four-defender system.
The Portuguese boss named his first-ever Red Devils side for this afternoon’s Premier League clash at Ipswich.
And United fans were eager to see if Amorim would adopt his famed 3-4-3 formation from Sporting Lisbon.
He led the club to two league titles with the versatile shape.
But on his United bow, Amorim appears to be continuing with Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 system.
The gaffer named just two centre-backs in his side, with Matthijs de Ligt partnering Jonny Evans plus Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot either side.
In midfield, it appeared to be a three of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen with Bruno Fernandes pushed further forward.
While in attack, Marcus Rashford was selected as striker with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho out wide.
Amorim also opted to select a strong bench, with left-backs Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw both deemed fit after their long-term injuries.
Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte made for impressive midfield options.
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While the forward line consisted of Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
But there was no sign of 16-year-old defender Goodwill Kukonki, who travelled with the squad but did not make the bench.
Speaking earlier in the week, Amorim warned fans that he was unlikely to stray far from Ten Hag’s previous team.
He said: “As a coach you have to choose one way or another, I choose always 100 percent our way. I choose to risk a bit.
“I believe so much in our way of playing, they will believe too. There is no second way. We will adapt some players because we don’t have a different profile.
“Maybe on Sunday you will see the starting 11 and not feel a lot of change but you will see it in the game and the positioning or where they receive the ball.”
United XI to face Ipswich: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Evans, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
Bench: Bayindir, Malacia, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Ugarte, Antony, Hojlund, Zirkzee