Amorim looks like this.
He entered Portman Road wearing a very large coat, which the much milder temperatures did not actually require.
His behavior had a purpose. His pre-match hug with his counterpart Kieran McKenna was warm and nothing more.
And Rashford's opener inside two minutes was the perfect start. However, it wasn't long before Amorim called Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho over during a brief break in play to explain how he expected their combination to work.
When the conversation ended, he explained to Jonny Evans and Casemiro what he wanted.
The term learning at work couldn't be more apt.
“After what we have seen this season, did we really expect this to be a transformed Manchester United team?” asked Chris Sutton on Radio 5 Live. “Ruben Amorim wants to change the style, but the players were on international duty. It’s impossible for him to just flip a switch.”
The style, as expected, was three center backs and full backs. This is the “idea” that Amorim told everyone they would see once he began work.
The positions of Noussair Mazraoui and Amad were the surprises in the selection. Right-back in a back three is Mazraoui's fourth position this season.
Amad is a winger but was considered a better alternative than Alejandro Garnacho at full-back, who was given a more forward role.
The Ivorian's rapid run and cross ensured Rashford's goal and towards the end of the game he was noticeably trying to retrieve a loose ball into the United penalty area before Mazraoui urged him to go back upfield.
“In three days he has improved a lot defensively,” said Amorim. “His opponent was the left-back the whole time, so it was like a winger was following him. It's easier because he only follows one man and it's man to man. He was so focused and did a great job.”
