Ruben Amorim, who masterminded Sporting Lisbon’s remarkable 4-1 victory over Manchester City, has cautioned fans at his future club Manchester United not to expect the same style of play at Old Trafford, Soccernet.football reports.
The Portuguese manager, who will officially leave Sporting after their match against Braga on Sunday, will soon take on a new challenge in the Premier League and face Pep Guardiola’s City in a Manchester derby in just over a month.
Amorim’s Sporting pulled off a stunning comeback against the English champions in his final home game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday.
After Phil Foden put City ahead within four minutes, Sporting fought back with Viktor Gyokeres leveling just before halftime.
Maximiliano Araujo gave Sporting the lead early in the second half, and Gyokeres sealed the win with two penalties, although Erling Haaland missed a crucial spot-kick for City.
While the emphatic win was a perfect farewell, Amorim urged caution about drawing comparisons between Sporting and Manchester United.
“This doesn’t mean anything in particular,” he said as per IrishExaminer.
“It’s misleading. We cannot transport one reality to another context. Man Utd cannot play the same way we do. We will have to adapt.”
The 39-year-old emphasised that United represents a new challenge, saying, “When I arrive in Manchester, I will be living in a different world with a different starting point. This was a one-off, and we had luck on our side. I will take this to the Premier League, but it will be different in Manchester. It will be fun, and I am ready for the challenge.”
Amorim also downplayed the hype around his new role, reminding fans of his playful remark before the game that a win might inspire the media to brand him “the new Sir Alex Ferguson.”
He clarified, “I was playing with words when I said that; it was a joke. I am not going to read anything for six months. I did this when I came to Sporting, and I will do it again. The only way I can do my job is to work and focus on the team.”
Reflecting on the memorable victory, he added, “With City missing their penalty, everything went very well for Sporting.”
Amorim’s journey at Sporting will conclude this weekend against Braga, with his Manchester United era beginning just in time to face the intense demands of Premier League football.