Sporting Lisbon’s rout of Man City doesn’t guarantee success with Man United: Ruben Amorim

LISBON – Ruben Amorim insisted that Sporting Lisbon’s stunning 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League on Nov 5 does not guarantee he will be able to make an immediate impact at Manchester United.

The Sporting coach has accepted United’s offer to replace Erik ten Hag and will officially take charge of the troubled English Premier League club on Nov 11.

Regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young managerial minds, the 39-year-old Portuguese delivered a tantalising glimpse of his acumen as his team exposed injury-hit City’s defensive weaknesses.

Phil Foden put City ahead in the opening moments at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, but the visitors wasted a string of chances to increase their lead and Sporting made them pay.

Viktor Gyokeres equalised before half-time and Maximiliano Araujo bagged the second after the break, before Gyokeres capped their incredible fightback with two penalties.

Amorim, who led Sporting to two Portuguese titles in four years, will take charge of his first United game at Ipswich on Nov 24. But he is far too astute to claim one victory proves he can revitalise the struggling Red Devils.

“What I can tell you is that this doesn’t mean anything in particular, don’t take anything from this,” he said.

“It’s misleading, we were very lucky today. We cannot transport one reality to another. Manchester United cannot play the way we play and we will have to adapt.”

Amorim was lauded by Sporting fans throughout his last home game before his jubilant players gave him a memorable send-off by tossing him in the air in celebration after the final whistle.

“The feeling with my players, the moment with the fans was very special. So I take this to the Premier League,” he added.

“When I arrive there it’s a different world, a different pressure. I will try to be the same. It will be fun and I’m ready.”

Despite handing Pep Guardiola his heaviest defeat since 2020, Amorim praised the manager he must outwit over a whole season, rather than one game, if the balance of power in Manchester is to shift back to Old Trafford.

City have won six league titles in eight years under Guardiola, while United have not been crowned champions since 2013.

“He is so much better than me at the moment. But I believe a lot in my newest club. We will start from a lower level, maybe I can say that, and we will improve the team, the club. Let’s see,” Amorim said.

Sweden striker Gyokeres would be a useful addition to United’s misfiring attack on the evidence of his ruthless demolition of City. But Amorim also said he does not expect to bring him to United.

Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva admitted City are in a “dark place” after their shock humiliation, but Guardiola vowed to solve his spluttering side’s problems.

For only the second time in the Guardiola era, they had suffered three consecutive losses in a single season, following two 2-1 losses to Tottenham Hotspur (League Cup) and Bournemouth (Premier League).

It was a painful return to Portugal for Lisbon-born Silva, who conceded that City are mired in a damaging slump.

“Everything looks to be going in the wrong way,” he said.

“Even when we are playing well, we don’t score our chances and we concede too easily. We need to get better very quickly, otherwise it will be very difficult to come back from these losses.”

Pressed on the reasons for City’s collapse, Guardiola said their creaky defence and injury issues were taking a toll.

“When you play lots of games, you cannot play the same line-up and same back four. We have had these problems, but it is what it is,” he said.

“Sometimes you can lose. We were in the position where they punished us for the few (chances) they do and we struggled for the chances we had. Now is the difficult moment in terms of results, but I want to be here. I want to fight and not give up.” AFP, REUTERS