Ruben Amorim's first European night at Old Trafford as Manchester United manager ended with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bodø/Glimt, a result that displayed both the promise and pitfalls of his evolving team.
United started brightly, with Alejandro Garnacho capitalising on a goalkeeper blunder to score within 48 seconds. It seemed like the ideal foundation for a comfortable win, but Bodø/Glimt had other plans. Goals from Hakon Evjen and Philip Zinckernagel in quick succession flipped the game on its head, exposing the defensive vulnerabilities Amorim has been tasked to resolve.
Still, Amorim's trust in Rasmus Højlund paid dividends. The Danish striker equalised just before halftime with a sublime finish and grabbed the winner early in the second half, sliding in Manuel Ugarte's low cross. Højlund's brace doubled his season tally and hinted at his potential to thrive under Amorim’s guidance.
Despite the victory, the match raised questions about United's defensive fragility. Why does this team, even after managerial changes, struggle to maintain control in moments of adversity? Bodø/Glimt's two goals highlighted familiar issues—disorganised transitions and a lack of support for wing-backs caught high up the pitch.
Amorim's substitutions, including the introduction of Diogo Dalot at halftime, brought some stability, but the match remained on edge. Garnacho missed opportunities to extend the lead, opting to shoot instead of passing to Højlund for a possible hat-trick. Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo also saw chances go begging.
In the dying moments, United needed goalkeeper Andre Onana to save the day, clawing away Patrick Berg's free-kick destined for the top corner. The crowd’s collective sigh of relief at the final whistle was palpable.
Amorim will take heart from his first victory, which lifted United to 12th in the Europa League standings, just a point off a top-eight finish. Yet, with three group games left, it’s clear this project is still under construction.
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