Ruben Amorim warned excited Manchester United fans not to get carried away by Sporting CP’s 4-1 win over Manchester City last night, insisting it was a “one-off”.
City dominated for long spells in Lisbon, particularly in the first half, but were undone by a hat-trick from Viktor Gyokores as Pep Guardiola’s injury-ravaged team were blown away.
The result has gone down well with the red half of Manchester but Amorim, who starts work at Old Trafford on November 11 after being named the successor to the sacked Erik ten Hag, insisted no comparisons should be drawn with what he will expect in the Premier League.
Highlights from our #UCL defeat to Sporting ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bwCvnnUlxe
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 6, 2024
“I already said previously you cannot transport one reality into another,” he said, before pointing out his side only had 27 per cent possession but were clinical with it.
“At Manchester United you cannot play exactly like this. You cannot play so defensively and so there we will have to adapt. Clearly it is really difficult to beat this team and to beat Pep Guardiola. And he is not a worse manager than me.
“It will be a completely different world, a different team, we won’t have that much time to train and we will begin from a different starting point. People can make their own judgements but I say to the people of Manchester that this was a one-off.”
A big send-off
It was Amorim’s final home game in charge and he was warmly applauded by the Sporting fans at the final whistle, and hoisted on to the players’ shoulders.
He added: “We were very lucky in this game. But the feeling with my players, the way they celebrated the win with the fans, was very special. I take this to the Premier League.
“When I arrive there it will be a different world, with different pressure. I will try to be the same. It will be fun – very fun – and I am ready for the challenge.”
Amorim’s first game in charge comes after the international break when United visit Ipswich on November 24.
