Ruben Amorim will be involved in his first Manchester derby as United boss this weekend (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Ruben Amorim has quashed rumours linking him with the Manchester City job as he takes the reins at Manchester United for his first derby. The 39-year-old, hailed as one of Europe’s most promising coaches after leading Sporting to success, was United’s pick following Erik ten Hag’s exit.
But prior to taking over at Old Trafford there was speculation over the possibility of Amorim replacing Guardiola at City in the future.
With Hugo Viana set to join the Citizens from Sporting next season, the plot thickened, yet Amorim’s heart was always set on United. “Never,” the Portuguese said when asked if he’d had talks with City. “Never had and this was my only option.
“When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts because I had already something in my mind (that) it could be a possibility.”
Dismissing any prior talks with City or Viana, Amorim is solely focused on United’s prospects. Meanwhile, Guardiola laid rest to the talk about his future by renewing his City contract until 2027 amid their poor form.
City have only one win in their last 10 outings across all competitions following a recent Champions League stumble against Juventus.
Amorim, the tactician behind Sporting’s remarkable 4-1 Champions League victory over City earlier this season, is unmoved by the form of United’s rivals. “I never think about these things,” he declared, putting his focus on addressing his own squad’s issues rather than City’s form.
“We will face a great opponent and I’m more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of issues here.”
He dismissed suggestions that United might encounter a weakened City side: “No, no, no, no. The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in the type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have. Even in these kind of moments.”
Ruben Amorim is wary of Man City’s threat despite their current form (Image: Getty)
His attention is firmly on his team’s preparation and strategy for the upcoming derby. Despite City’s recent stumbles, they still sit comfortably fourth in the Premier League, while United trail in 13th position after back-to-back losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
“I’m really focused on the details,” Amorim stated. “I just want to improve the team, so I cannot live it like a normal derby like it should be, like two great teams fighting for the title. It is not that in this moment.
“So, it is just one more game with a very good opponent. Both teams are struggling in the moment, so I hope in future I can feel that real feeling of a derby, but I know it’s really important for our fans.
“But my goal now is to improve the team, win games and I will try to win this game.”
The coach also commented on Andre Onana’s form, acknowledging recent errors: “You have to take it like it is. He had already in the past a past situation like that, so we have to work on this.
“If you see the play, we are trying to build up a lot with the goalkeeper making the bounce (pass) with Matta (De Ligt) a lot of times.”
Unfortunately, this tactic backfired during their latest Europa League fixture: “This time we have a disconnect a little bit during the play and when we try this we suffered a goal. A difficult goal for us in the (beginning) of the second half.
“But we managed today, not like against Nottingham, to help Onana like he did in the past for us.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1988507/Ruben-Amorim-Man-City-Man-Utd-news