November 25th 2024.
Former England striker and Premier League legend Alan Shearer is expressing concern for Manchester United midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. He believes it will be quite a challenge for them to excel under the leadership of new Old Trafford manager Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils recently appointed the highly-rated Portuguese coach to take over the reins, following the decision to sack Erik ten Hag.
Amorim's first game in charge was a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, where both Casemiro and Eriksen started but were eventually substituted in the second half. Shearer fears for their future at the club, given Amorim's preferred style of play, which he intends to implement at the Theatre of Dreams. "Amorim obviously changed the system, opting for his favored three at the back," Shearer shared on The Rest is Football podcast. He also added, "I was thinking 'here we go' when they scored early, but unfortunately they failed to maintain that momentum. It was quite similar to what we've seen throughout this season."
Shearer believes that Ipswich deserved to secure a point from the game, as United's goalkeeper Andre Onana made some incredible saves to keep them in the match. "He's got a really big job on his hands, and it's going to take a lot of time. You can't judge him based on just one game; he'll need the rest of the season to fully implement his style," Shearer explained. He also pointed out that United needs to bring in new players, especially in the forward positions, in order to improve their performance.
Furthermore, Shearer mentioned that Amorim has inherited an aging midfield, with Casemiro and Eriksen being the starting choices for the first game under his management. He feels that it will be a huge challenge for them to keep up with Amorim's pressing and high-energy style of play. "He's going to need this season to sort things out. They spent a lot of money in the summer, but they won't see the rewards for it just yet. It will take time," Shearer stated.
Amorim's first game in charge saw Manchester United make an impressive start, with Marcus Rashford scoring within two minutes. However, Ipswich managed to level the game just before half-time, and it ended in a 1-1 draw. "Not the best result, but the Premier League is a tough league with high intensity," Amorim commented. He also added, "We started off well, but we should have had more possession. We are still learning."
On his first taste of Premier League football, the former Sporting Lisbon boss expressed his excitement for being in such a great environment and witnessing a thrilling spectacle. However, once the game started, he was completely focused and felt like he was back in Portugal or the third division. "You guys are so lucky to have the best league in the world. I am really happy to be here, but today I don't feel much because I like to win games," Amorim shared.
The 1-1 draw leaves Manchester United in 12th place in the Premier League, six points behind the Champions League places. It is safe to say that Amorim has a challenging task ahead of him, but he is determined to turn things around for the Red Devils. "It's a tough league, but we'll keep learning and working hard to improve," Amorim concluded.
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