Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd players were 'AFRAID' and 'thinking too much' in disappointing Ipswich draw as new manager bemoans lack of time with Red Devils squad

Manchester United started their Amorim era with a bang as Marcus Rashford scored past Arijanet Muric in just the second minute after Amad Diallo's brilliant run and cross to the England international. However, the Red Devils did not build on their early goal as Ipswich dominated before Omari Hutchinson's screamer brought Kieran McKenna's men level at Portman Road just before the end of the first half. United were able to grow into the clash in the second half but failed to get a winner on the night. Amorim opened up on the clash and admitted that his men were a "little bit afraid".

Speaking to the media, Amorim said: "If you see the first half, you can see that they are a little bit afraid. [Morsy] was always alone. We have to jump on him. Hutchinson was always in the dead space, Jonny Evans should be pressing his guy but when we don't have training and it's hard to say all the reactions to the players, we had two days so they are confused a little bit.

"We have to look at the data, understand the data and look at that. First, we have to understand the game, we have to be so much better physically to cope with the high pressure, the volume of the high-speed running, all these things but we need time to work on these things."

Amorim went on to bemoan the lack of time he has had with his squad having only welcomed the majority of his players back earlier this week because of the international break. The Portuguese coach continued: "My players were thinking too much in the game. We had just two days altogether, we need more. They leave us one against one and we have to use those moments.

"It was a tough match, we lost some balls without pressure. When you start like this, you have to control the ball. We cannot do it at the moment but they really, really tried. They are really trying and they want this. We have to address the new ideas now and try and be better for the next stage."

Amorim will have a few days to work with his squad as they prepare to face Bodo Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday. The game will be Amorim's first in charge of United at Old Trafford, and it comes just three days before his opening Premier League home fixture against struggling Everton.