Ruben Amorim braced for Sir Alex Ferguson response forward of Man Utd begin date

On Nov 4, 2024

Ruben Amorim fears Manchester United fans could label him the next Sir Alex Ferguson, if he takes down Pep Guardiola in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Amorim will take charge of his penultimate game as Sporting Lisbon boss, ahead of his arrival at United to replace Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese has agreed a deal with United until 2027 – and will start his new role next week.

In the meantime, Amorim is bracing himself for a head-to-head showdown with someone he reckons is the best coach in the world. It promises to be the first of many duels between Amorim and the City boss.

Amorim is desperate to win the game to maintain Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season. But he knows it would raise expectations levels with United supporters – and even earn him comparisons to Old Trafford legend Fergie.

Amorim said: “I am sure people from Manchester will be looking at what I do, but my focus is on Sporting. I am sure people looking very carefully, at how we play and how we react.

“I see a lot of matches from everywhere, and draw inspiration from all sorts of coaches, Pep was an inspiration for me and many other coaches.

“But I don’t think about that. My focus is on winning the match for Sporting. The conclusions are not important for me, because they could be erroneous. If we win they (United fans) will think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.

“That will be very difficult. It could increase expectations, and I don’t know if this is better when I start my new adventure.” Amorim has a huge task ahead of him in turning United into serial winners again. But he insists he has no regrets about taking the job.

He added: “I have never thought I have taken the wrong decision. I cannot think of another coach who is living through what I am now. It will be my last match (in Europe) and I will feel nostalgic. But United were the only team that moved me.”