As Sporting Lisbon prepares to face Manchester City in the Champions League, coach Ruben Amorim, who will soon take the helm at Manchester United, has praised Pep Guardiola as the best coach in the world. Speaking to Sport TV on Monday, Amorim emphasized the high regard in which he holds Guardiola, stating, “(City have) the best team in the world and the best coach in the world.” This match marks Amorim’s second-to-last game in charge of Sporting before his transition to Manchester United.
The two teams met in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2022, where City dominated the tie with a 5-0 aggregate victory. Reflecting on his growth as a coach since then, Amorim acknowledged that while he has improved, Guardiola has continued to raise the bar. He admitted, “I feel like I’m a better coach (now), unfortunately what I feel is that Pep Guardiola has also become an even better coach, so the gap remains.” This recognition highlights the admiration many coaches have for Guardiola, who has set a high standard in the world of football.
Manchester City has enjoyed remarkable success under Guardiola, winning the Premier League for four consecutive seasons and securing the Champions League title in 2023. In contrast, Manchester United, which last lifted the Premier League trophy in 2013 under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, is currently struggling in 13th place in the league. To address their challenges, United has hired Amorim, paying Sporting €11 million ($12 million) for one of the most promising young managers in European football.
Amorim’s tenure at Sporting has been marked by significant achievements, including leading the club to its first league title in 19 years in 2021, followed by another championship last season. As he prepares for his new role, Amorim noted that a potential defeat against City might alleviate some pressure when he arrives at Old Trafford. He explained, “If the result is very negative, expectations will drop, and I don’t think that’s a bad starting point when you begin at Manchester United.” He also mentioned the challenge of living up to expectations, saying, “If we win tomorrow, they’ll think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived, which is very difficult to maintain.”
Amorim understands the significance of the upcoming clash, stating, “I’m fully aware that I’m going to be judged as a manager on this game, and only on this game.” However, he maintained that losing to a formidable team like City would not be viewed as a failure. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the match and giving his team a strong send-off at their home stadium, Alvalade, before heading to Manchester.
In his final match after facing City, Amorim will lead Sporting against Braga in the league on Sunday. As he departs, Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand expressed his mixed feelings about the coach’s exit, saying, “I felt sad when I heard that he was leaving me and Sporting, but in football, opportunities like this arise.” Hjulmand echoed the sentiment of many at the club, hoping to showcase their strength and resilience amid the coaching transition, stating, “We want to show that we no longer need Ruben.” This reflects a shared commitment among the players to honor their coach’s legacy while moving forward as a team.
