Rúben Amorim has modestly downplayed expectations surrounding his impending role at Manchester United, acknowledging that he is not yet on the level of Manchester City’s legendary manager, Pep Guardiola. This comes despite Amorim’s impressive leadership in guiding his current team, Sporting CP, to a 4-1 victory over City in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Amorim, who will take over as Manchester United’s new manager on November 11, has quickly earned the admiration of United supporters, especially with his dramatic win over one of the top favorites for the European title. The result in Lisbon, where Sporting dominated City, was a statement performance as the 39-year-old prepares to bid farewell to the club where he has built a strong reputation.
In his final home game at Sporting, Amorim made a lighthearted remark about United fans potentially seeing him as the “new Sir Alex Ferguson” if he managed to pull off a victory against City. While that may be an exaggeration, considering Ferguson’s iconic status after leading United to numerous titles, Amorim’s growing reputation has left many United fans hopeful that they might finally have a manager capable of returning the club to its former glory. This includes potentially being able to challenge and defeat Guardiola, who has become synonymous with success at Manchester City.
However, Amorim was quick to downplay his own achievements in comparison to Guardiola, who has won multiple Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy with City. “He’s so much better than me at the moment,” Amorim said when discussing his new challenge at Manchester United. “But I believe a lot in my new club. We will start from a low level, and we will improve the team, the club.”
Amorim’s humility stood in stark contrast to the electrifying performance of his team against City, which included a hat trick from striker Viktor Gyökeres. Gyökeres was the hero of the night at Estádio José Alvalade, scoring three goals, including two penalties, as Sporting staged a stunning comeback after being 1-0 down. The Swedish forward has now scored 23 goals in 17 games this season, further enhancing his growing reputation across Europe.
Amorim was careful not to fuel speculation about his potential transfer plans, despite his admiration for Gyökeres. “Viktor has to stay until the end of the season,” Amorim confirmed. “And then his life maybe is going somewhere else.” While Sporting’s manager hinted that Gyökeres could leave for a bigger club in the summer, he will stay in Lisbon until the end of the current season, which means the striker will not be part of any January transfer activity.
The Champions League victory over Manchester City was a poignant one for Amorim, who had already signed to take over at Manchester United but had committed to finishing his obligations with Sporting, including this game. Fans at Sporting gave Amorim an emotional send-off, with a large banner reading “Obrigado (Thank You) Ruben Amorim” unfurled before the match. After the game, Amorim was hoisted into the air by his players, and he took a lap around the field, acknowledging the passionate fans who had supported him during his tenure.
Amorim leaves behind a strong legacy at Sporting, having led the club to two Portuguese league titles in his four seasons in charge. Despite his imminent departure, the future looks bright for the club, with Amorim’s successor set to inherit a structured and successful team. “The coach who comes will have a good legacy,” Amorim reflected. “Above all, there will be a structured club, which has won in recent years, and an intelligent audience that will realize that it will be necessary to give the next coach time to fine-tune some things.”
Looking ahead to his next challenge at Manchester United, Amorim is fully aware that the task of managing the historic English club will be very different from what he has experienced in Portugal. He made it clear that his approach would need to evolve, especially in a club with the immense pressure of United. “When I’m at the next club, the approach will have to be different. Not much is taken from here because we will have to play differently in the future,” Amorim explained.
Although United fans are likely hoping for a quick turnaround under Amorim’s leadership, the 39-year-old coach is keen to remain focused on the process. He is not allowing the hype to affect his preparations and has already vowed not to read any media reports about his arrival in England. “I’m certainly not going to read anything for six months. I did the same at Sporting. I’m not going to read anything or have access to anything. It’s the only way to do my job,” Amorim stated.
The victory over City was particularly significant for Sporting, as it ended City’s 26-game unbeaten run in the Champions League and also handed Guardiola’s side their third consecutive loss across all competitions. The result highlighted Sporting’s resilience and Amorim’s tactical acumen. City had taken the lead early through Phil Foden in the fourth minute, but Sporting responded emphatically, scoring four unanswered goals. A key moment in the match came in the 69th minute, when City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, missed a penalty with the score at 3-1. Had Haaland converted, the game may have taken a different turn.
Amorim admitted that luck played a part in Sporting’s victory, but he also credited his team’s mentality and the supportive atmosphere in the stadium. “It was written because the first half was very tough on us,” Amorim said. “We were very lucky, but then the second half we scored twice in the first minutes, and the environment, everything, helped us. It was an amazing night.”
The victory was also notable because it represented the first time City had lost three games in a row in all competitions since April 2018. It will certainly give Amorim and his team a sense of accomplishment as they head into his final days in charge before he transitions to Manchester United.
For now, though, Amorim will continue his duties at Sporting with one final match against Braga on Sunday before heading to Old Trafford. United fans are eager to see what the future holds under the new manager, especially after his electrifying victory over City. His humility and focus on the team’s long-term growth, rather than seeking immediate glory, suggest that the club is in for a methodical rebuilding process.
With his time in Portugal coming to a close, Amorim is preparing for a new chapter at Manchester United. The challenge will be immense, but if his work at Sporting is any indication, he is more than ready to take on what’s next. Whether he can replicate his success in the English Premier League remains to be seen, but Amorim’s journey is just beginning, and United fans will be watching closely.