Ruben Amorim Criticizes Joshua Zirkzee and Jonny Evans After Manchester United’s Draw with Ipswich

Ruben Amorim expressed his concerns over decision-making following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town on Sunday. Despite a promising start, with Marcus Rashford scoring early for United, Amorim wasn’t pleased with certain individual performances, particularly from Joshua Zirkzee and Jonny Evans.

United initially took control at Portman Road with Rashford’s second-minute goal, but Ipswich responded when Omari Hutchinson’s deflected shot equalized. Kieran McKenna’s side had a chance to take the lead, but Andre Onana produced a fantastic save to deny Liam Delap.

In the second half, Amorim made five substitutions, bringing on Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund, Zirkzee, and Mason Mount. Zirkzee, deployed in a No. 10 role, failed to make a significant impact, leading Amorim to urge the Dutch forward to improve his positioning in the box.

Amorim made it clear that Zirkzee’s lack of awareness during attacks was a problem. “You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put it forward. Zirkzee needs to understand that he must get into the box for the crosses,” said Amorim. “The system is not the issue; it’s about understanding the game better.”

Jonny Evans, who was tasked with marking Hutchinson, also came under fire. Amorim pointed out that Evans didn’t press Hutchinson effectively, allowing the Ipswich forward too much space. “Evans should have been closer to Hutchinson,” Amorim noted. “We were a little afraid in the first half. If we don’t press the ball properly, it makes things difficult.”

The manager admitted that a lack of proper training time had left his players confused in certain moments. “We only had two days to prepare, and it’s clear we need more time to get the physical and tactical aspects right,” Amorim added.

Additionally, Amorim stressed the importance of Bruno Fernandes’ role in the team’s build-up play. While he acknowledged Fernandes’ improvement in controlling the ball, he emphasized that United cannot rely solely on his long passes. “Bruno is key for us, but we need to manage his role carefully,” said Amorim.

With a challenging season ahead, Amorim remains determined to refine his squad’s understanding of the game and address the issues highlighted in the Ipswich draw.