How Amorim adapted to win his first Man Utd game

Reuben Amorim warned that his team would have to suffer as they adapt to his new system and that came to fruition against Bodo/Glimt as Norway’s champions exposed some glaring holes.

Although the pressing of the team was far more impressive with Hojlund and Mason Mount in the front three, there were problems further back in defence.

Amorim wants his right and left centre-backs to push right up to win the ball high in midfield, but the other players appeared unclear about what their responsibilities were in these moments.

For Evjen’s pinpoint equaliser, Mazraoui had pressed up to try and regain the ball, forcing Ugarte to cover which left a hole on the edge of the box that should have been filled by Bruno Fernandes, operating further back than at Ipswich.

It was too late when he realised the amount of space on the edge of the box for Evjen, who found the top corner.

Then for the second Lisandro Martinez was deep in the opposition half, leaving Tyrell Malacia one-vs-one against Zinckernagel. The returning defender, who had a head start, was left for dead. All it took was a long ball over the top to expose the gap.

Hojlund’s first goal, the equaliser that made it 2-2, was an example of this strategy working to perfection. United were high up the pitch and lost the ball, but Mazraoui stepped up to intercept and ended the move as the provider.

Diogo Dalot was brought on at the break for the Malacia, making his first appearance for United for 550 days, after he was exposed for Bodo’s second.

United remained in a back three in possession, Dalot coming inside almost as a No 10, but reverted to a back four without the ball to address the problems that led to the Norwegian champions picking the hosts apart in the first half.

It was not plain sailing from thereon out, but United were markedly improved. Amorim is experiencing teething problems but showed enough adaptability to get over the line for his first win.