Ruben Amorim has been handed the kind of farewell script that will become either a fairytale or a nightmare.
Having agreed to take charge of Manchester United, Amorim will take on their hated neighbours in one of his final acts as Sporting Lisbon manager. The chance to beat Pep Guardiola, one of the coaches he’s idolised, and prove why United were right to make him their unanimous choice to replace Erik ten Hag.
Amorin and Guardiola will find themselves locked in more duels in the future. But it is this one in the Portuguese capital on Tuesday which gives Amorin the golden opportunity to put down a serious marker. To earn some genuine respect from United supporters, and Guardiola himself, at the first opportunity.
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Lose, however, and there will be immediate doubts from the United faithful that another managerial gamble has been taken on someone who will go on to find himself out of his depth at Old Trafford. Somehow Amorin has to keep his head clear and thoughts in check, inside what promises to be an emotional Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He said: “It is always very difficult to predict what is going to happen. We have to be brave. Of course, I’m sure there will be interest in the match (in Manchester), and everyone will be paying attention to every detail, but my focus is on Sporting.
“Before that new adventure in Manchester, what interests me is leaving the Alvalade with a perfect farewell. It will be an emotional night, but I am going to control my emotions. It would be perfect to win, even if we do it when the fans are whistling.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
No-one knows better than Amorim how devastating Guardiola’s City side can be when the mood takes them. Amorim’s Sporting side were thrashed 5-0 in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie in Lisbon in 2022.
He added: “I think that I am now a better coach than I was before that match. Unfortunately, Pep Guardiola is an even better coach, so the distance between us is probably the same.
“We have a different team this time, a better team and we are ready. Manchester City have world class players, but we have to be brave and stick to how we normally play. I want to see my players fighting.”
Guardiola knows his depleted squad faces a huge challenge against the reigning Portuguese champions. Sporting have not lost a game in all competitions this season, and will be on a mission to give Amorim the send-off he deserves.
Guardiola admits a repeat of the result two seasons ago is not going to happen. He said: “I never think before a game we are going to win four of five nil. Never, ever.
“Sporting play quite similar. They use the ball in possession from the back more. They can be so dangerous. They have the same manager and same mentality. Winning the Portuguese league proves how strong this team is.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, has laughed of suggestions of a mini crisis in the wake of back-to-back defeats. He added: “We lost one (league) game and are two points behind Liverpool, which is a top class team.
“I know our standards. People expect us to win the Treble every season, but it is not going to happen. For that to happen, everything has to be on the same page. It’s impossible.