It took Ed Sheeran to kill off the Ruben Amorim love-in on Sky Sports

Broadcaster was desperate to give lift-off to the new era at Manchester United – nobody warned them about Ipswich Town

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That is “utopian” bellowed Peter Drury when Marcus Rashford scored the first goal of the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United after 81 seconds. He will probably feel he went far too early.
To be fair, it was a very good goal, Amad Diallo beating two players, galloping up from right wing-back in Amorim’s new formation, crossing for Rashford to tap past goalkeeper Arijanet Muric who inexplicably did not move towards the ball to gather it, crouching down waiting for it instead. Nobody seemed to notice the glaring error amid the euphoria of the celebrations.
Rather than let the crowd noise do the job for a few seconds, Drury continued to blurt things out in his overexcitement. “Ruben’s Reds have ripped right into it… a launch of the most staggering type” he continued.
The camera panned to Amorim on the touchline, dressed in his designer coat, trousers fashionably short over pristine white trainers. He looked calm, like this was business as usual. He was right. Manchester United were largely insipid after that glorious first few seconds.
Nevertheless, this was precisely the start Sky Sports wanted. The thrill of a new era, a new man in the dugout. They are desperate for United to be back, instead the club are still where they have been since Sir Alex Ferguson retired: one manager sacked and a new man expected to restore the glory days.
If you missed Amorim’s official unveiling last week, fear not, because Sky Sports were there to embrace him on behalf of us all. Pitchside reporter David Craig took it upon himself to welcome United’s new manager to the job on behalf of “everyone at Sky Sports and the rest of the Premier League”. He tripped over his words a little as the emotion of the occasion caught in his throat.
“You said you want to rewrite the club’s history,” added Craig. I think it’s probably shaping the future that matters more, but anyway. On to the action.
“Here comes the great unveiling,” gushed Drury. “And Portman Road laps it up, wide-eyed.” Indeed, they did, particularly when the home fans realised United were still nothing to fear on the pitch.
Having taken the lead in impressive fashion, United reverted to type. Sat back, invited pressure, struggled to create anything going forward and Ipswich – who were also playing in case you had forgotten – equalised before half-time.
What followed was like listening to the air being slowly deflated from a balloon as the Sky Sports party for United’s new manager fell flat.
This was about as far from utopian perfection as you can imagine and after the hype and excitement of the pre-match build-up, Drury realised early in the second half that the new manager had not, in fact, waved his magic wand and made all of United’s problems disappear.
Slowly but surely the commentators remembered that the home team were actually looking a lot more dangerous than the visitors. United looked flat, so too sounded the commentators. At half-time, Roy Keane looked irritated about being asked to talk about the Rashford goal when he had been more annoyed by what followed it.
At the end, Keane urged United supporters to give the new manager time. We have heard all this before, but of course he is right. Nothing can be judged on one game.
“You’ve still got the same problems, the same players and leopards don’t change their spots,” added Keane. “If any team was going to win it, it was Ipswich.”
Never change Roy, never change. Although Kelly Cates, who really should be in the running to replace Gary Lineker as the new Match of the Day presenter, did highlight the fact that United’s expected goals rating of 0.90 was their second lowest of the season and that their total distance covered of 102 km was also the second lowest. It was Ipswich’s highest xG of the season too.
Izzy Christiansen, in the studio alongside Keane and Jamie Redknapp, described it as an “average” start. Seems fair enough.
Redknapp accused the players of showing “their true self” as the game went on and it is going to take a change in personnel for Amorim’s system to work.
The final word belonged to Drury. “No dream beginning but neither was it a horrific start.” Indeed. It was largely more of the same. Not quite the relaunch event Sky Sports and Manchester United supporters were hoping for.
Ed Sheeran crashed Ruben Amorim’s first post-match interview 😂 pic.twitter.com/cTSMgyTE8w
Ipswich fan and shirt sponsor Ed Sheeran awkwardly gatecrashing Amorim’s post-match interview summed up the afternoon. “I’m loving being back in the Premier League” said Sheeran, before being politely urged to get off screen by Redknapp.
Amorim looked bemused. Welcome to the Premier League on behalf of everyone at Sky Sports and an annoying pop star.
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