If Manchester City’s third slip in a row caused an uproar, the sensational triumph of Reuben Amorim it is certainly no exception. In his last moments of joy with Sporting Lisbon before flying to the Premier League and taking over the helm of Manchester United, the 39-year-old Portuguese manager took the opportunity to thank the home fans and the tribute they offered him with a sensational goleada trimmed to citizens: a 4-1 at the Estádio José Alvalade which will remain in the history of the Champions League and of the green and white club.
A hymn to the joy of football by Ruben Amorim, who thus also takes part in his first Manchester derby and captures the first wide-eyed approval of the fans Red Devils and the ownership of the English club who decided to go all-in on him after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. An icy shower, however, for Pep Guardiola who after Tottenham and Bournemouth also fell against Sporting and also conceded four goals. It has only happened twice in the Spanish manager’s career, always at City and in the past with Bayern Munich.
Guardiola’s applause for Amorim and Sporting
“Congratulations, congratulations to Sporting. I have nothing to say. When you lose 4-1 – the Spanish coach began post-match – you can only compliment your opponent. We could have closed the game in the first half and then , after three minutes of the second half, it was already 3-1. We could have avoided penalties. We are going through a difficult moment. We have to learn from this.” A journalist then asked him if after this result, the English fans appreciate Amorim even more: “I don’t know”, the emblematic comment.