Manchester United’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town may have secured three points, but Rio Ferdinand remains unconvinced about the team’s long-term compatibility with Ruben Amorim’s tactical vision.
The former United defender suggested that key players, including Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Rasmus Højlund, may not possess the athleticism required for Amorim’s high-energy system.
The match at Old Trafford saw United recover from an early blunder that gifted Ipswich a goal. Matthijs de Ligt’s strike and a Sam Morsy own goal gave the hosts the lead before Jaden Philogene equalized after Patrick Dorgu’s red card.
Harry Maguire’s powerful header early in the second half ultimately sealed the win, lifting United to 14th place in the Premier League table.
Despite the victory, Ferdinand pointed out that United have struggled to implement the style of play that Amorim successfully deployed at Sporting. “There hasn’t been the progress we all anticipated,” he said, acknowledging the difficulties the Portuguese coach has faced since arriving at Old Trafford.
One of Ferdinand’s biggest concerns is United’s lack of physical dominance. Comparing Amorim’s Sporting side to the current United squad, he highlighted a stark contrast in playing style. “Sporting were an athletic, dynamic team—one of the staples of that team,” he noted. “This United squad doesn’t have that mobility.”
Ferdinand pointed out that players like De Ligt, Maguire, and Højlund, while talented in their own right, do not naturally fit into Amorim’s high-pressing, physically demanding approach. He believes the manager will need to reshape the squad to match his tactical philosophy.
While Ferdinand acknowledged Amorim’s commitment and work ethic, he suggested the manager would need to make significant squad changes in the summer. “He needs to get to the end of the season, regroup, and start building the team properly,” he said, emphasizing that United have been “stuttering along” this season.
In the short term, United will also have to cope without Dorgu, who received a three-match ban for his reckless challenge on Omari Hutchinson. Ferdinand had no complaints about the red card, describing it as an unfortunate but justified decision.
As United aim to climb the table, the question remains: can Amorim adapt his system to the current squad, or will he need a major overhaul to bring his vision to life?