Ruben Amorim has an opportunity to quickly win over Manchester United supporters when he faces off against Pep Guardiola. Amorim, who is currently in a notice period at Sporting Lisbon as he prepares to step into the role of head coach for United, will compete against Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
At a recent press conference, he remarked, “If the result is negative, expectations will drop. If we win, they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.” This acknowledgment of the high stakes reflects the keen scrutiny directed at him before he even officially begins his tenure at Old Trafford on November 11. Although a win against City may not alter United’s current standings, it would serve as a significant early testament to the club’s choice to dismiss Erik ten Hag and appoint Amorim, a 39-year-old who has led Sporting to two Portuguese titles and has been associated with many top European clubs in recent years.
A victory over City could ignite hope among United supporters that they have finally found a coach capable of competing with Guardiola’s dominance in the Premier League, especially after previous managers such as Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ten Hag have fallen short. Meanwhile, Guardiola’s own future is under speculation, with his contract running out at the end of the season and no clear intentions from him regarding an extension.
Another figure involved in Guardiola’s decision-making may be Hugo Viana, Sporting’s current sporting director, who is set to transition to City in January. Viana’s upcoming role as the successor to Txiki Begiristain, who will leave his position at season’s end, has led to speculation about Amorim being considered as a potential candidate for Guardiola’s role should he decide to depart. However, Amorim’s focus remains on revitalizing his new club in Manchester.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Amorim becomes the sixth permanent manager for United. Despite a series of high-profile appointments, none have come close to clinching the title during a period in which City has been crowned champions six times in the last eight seasons under Guardiola’s guidance. This reality makes the upcoming match particularly significant for United fans, who are eager to see how Amorim matches wits with Guardiola.
Historically, United has achieved success against City largely through counter-attacking strategies, making it intriguing to see whether Amorim will adopt a more aggressive approach in a match that could serve as his farewell to the home crowd at Estadio Alvalade. Compounding the situation is the fact that City is currently facing challenges with injuries to key players and has recently suffered back-to-back defeats.
“What interests me is winning, saying a good farewell to Estadio Alvalade. What I want is to make the fans and my players happy,” Amorim stated, underscoring his commitment to securing a positive outcome in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.