Ruben Amorim was given a heroes farewell on Tuesday evening.
Amorim, 39, handed Manchester City a footballing lesson as the English champions fell apart in the steamy heat of Lisbon. City had started the better team, but after half-time, there was only one side that was going to take the three points.
And as Amorim, in his final home game before packing him bags and touching down at Old Trafford, left the pitch he was given a heroes send-off. Sporting players all hugged their outgoing boss before he was lifted and carried off the pitch.
“Amorim’s last home game and the love from Sporting players is proof of his greatness,” one fan said. While a second posted: “I hope our player’s can see this and know that a proper man is coming to them. They should do everything for him!”
“You can see how much he means to them,” a third said. And a Sporting fan chimed in: “Please treat him well…”
(Image: PA)
Amorim will rock up in Manchester on November 11, taking his charge of his first game for the Red Devils on November 24 – when they travel to East Angelia for a clash with Ipswich Town.
Speaking in the TNT Sports studio after the game, Rio Ferdinand joked: “Pep will be scared,” when asked about the Manchester derby in 40 days time.
However, Amorim has already started to play down expectations: “My focus is on winning the match for Sporting. The conclusions are not important for me because they could be erroneous: if we win tomorrow they will think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.
“That will be very difficult. It could increase expectations, I don’t know what is better when I start my new adventure.”