Kieran McKenna Discusses Ruben Amorim’s Appointment at Man Utd After Summer Speculation

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has expressed his ongoing connection to Manchester United following the recent appointment of Ruben Amorim as the club's new manager. McKenna, a former assistant at United, acknowledged the bond he shares with the Reds, despite having been a candidate for the top job himself during the summer.

After successfully guiding Ipswich to back-to-back promotions, McKenna's name surfaced as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag when speculation about the Dutch manager's future began to swirl. For a time, it was rumored that McKenna was hesitant to commit to Ipswich while awaiting a possible call from United, who were considering parting ways with Ten Hag.

Ultimately, United decided to retain Ten Hag for the time being, but this arrangement was only temporary. Following a poor start to the season, the club officially announced Ten Hag's departure earlier this week. Soon after, they approached Amorim, who quickly accepted the role, set to begin his tenure during the international break.

As McKenna prepares to face Amorim in his first match at Old Trafford after the break, he commented on the significance of the upcoming encounter. "It’s certainly going to add more external intrigue to that game," he said, highlighting the excitement surrounding the clash. "Man United coming to Portman Road was always going to be a huge game and one to look forward to."

McKenna conveyed his fondness for United, stating, "Of course, it’s a club I have an affinity with and I always want to see them do well." However, he added a competitive edge, hoping for Ipswich's success in the match against United: "Hopefully not in the game that is coming up but, other than that, I wish them all the best and I’m sure he’ll be a good addition to the league."

After facing Ipswich, Amorim will take charge of several key fixtures for United, including matches against Bodo/Glimt, Everton, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest. As the Premier League prepares for another exciting chapter, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on how the new manager fares in his inaugural matches.