Manchester United bound Ruben Amorim tried to downplay fans expectations after Sporting CP’s 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night, labeling the result “a one-off”
The Portuguese ended his spell at the Lisbon based club on a scintillating high as he guided Sporting to a famous Champions League victory over Pep Guardiola’s Man City in his last home game in charge.
The Cityzens took an early lead through Phil Foden, but Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres equalized before halftime and then Maximiliano Araujo put the Portuguese side ahead early in the second half.
Gyokeres completed a hat-trick with two penalty goals, while Erling Haaland missed a chance to score, hitting the crossbar, as Sporting defeated City convincingly.
“It was written it had to be like this,” said a delighted Amorim after Sporting had condemned Manchester City to their third defeat in a week.
Amorim however urged United faithfuls not to read too much meaning into Tuesday’s result, acknowledging the difference in the situations of both clubs and the challenges that lie ahead in Manchester.
“I already said previously you cannot transport one reality into another,” the Portuguese continued as quoted by BBC Sports.
“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.”
“It is [this result] misleading,” said Amorim, in his final answer of the news conference, delivered in English, just as he promised, if Sporting won.
“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.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
