Ruben Amorim says Man Utd are ‘my solely possibility’ as he dismisses Man Metropolis hypothesis

Ruben Amorim says he has by no means spoken to Manchester Metropolis about turning into Pep Guardiola’s substitute because the Manchester United head coach prepares for his first derby in cost.

The 39-year-old has established himself as considered one of Europe’s finest rising coaches via his transformational work at Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.

United moved shortly to nominate Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag on the finish of October when he was linked with Metropolis amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.

The truth that sporting director of soccer Hugo Viana will tackle the function on the Etihad Stadium subsequent summer time has added an additional dimension, however Amorim insists the job at Outdated Trafford was his solely ambition.

Requested if he had ever had a dialog in regards to the prospect of becoming a member of Metropolis at any level, Amorim replied: “By no means. I by no means did it and it was my solely possibility.

“When Manchester United spoke to me, I had little doubt as a result of I already had one thing in thoughts (that) it may very well be a risk.

“With Manchester Metropolis or Hugo Viana? Nothing about it.

Guardiola ended hypothesis over his future shortly after Amorim set foot in Manchester, with the Metropolis boss signing an extension till 2027.

The 53-year-old put pen to paper midway via what’s his worst run of outcomes since becoming a member of in 2016, with Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus persevering with that oscillation.

The reigning Premier League champions have received simply as soon as of their final 10 matches in all competitions, with seven of these matches ending in defeat.

A kind of defeats was orchestrated by Amorim, whose Sporting facet secured a surprising 4-1 Champions League triumph as he waited to take the reins at United.

However regardless of all of the champions’ challenges, the Portuguese is just not shopping for into the speak this may very well be the appropriate time to face Metropolis.

“I by no means take into consideration these issues,” Amorim stated. “We are going to face a giant opponent and I’m extra centered on our issues, so we’ve got plenty of issues right here.

“I am extra centered on what we should always do on Sunday to win the sport, so I am actually centered on my crew.”

Requested if United have been going through a special, weaker metropolis, he replied: “No, no, no, no.

“The large groups can react at any second, and I feel they’re in a greater place than us in the kind of understanding of the sport, the way in which they play, the arrogance they’ve. Even in these sorts of moments .

“Now we have plenty of issues to give attention to in our crew. In fact we’ve got a method to attempt to win the match correctly, however we solely give attention to our crew.

Metropolis could also be struggling, however they nonetheless head into the weekend fourth within the Premier League desk, eight factors higher than their neighbors.

What’s the very first thing you discover about Pep Guardiola’s report in Manchester derbies? pic.twitter.com/PSutnZct52

–Premierleague (@premierleague) December 12, 2024

Again-to-back defeats towards Arsenal and Nottingham Forest depart United in thirteenth place with a paltry 19 factors forward of Sunday’s extremely anticipated derby.

“I’m actually centered on particulars,” Amorim stated.

“I simply need to enhance the crew, so I am unable to expertise it like a traditional derby prefer it ought to be, like two massive groups combating for the title. It is not that in the meanwhile.

“So it’s simply one other match with an excellent opponent.

“Each groups are struggling in the meanwhile, so I hope sooner or later I can get that actual feeling of a derby, however I do know it is actually essential for our followers.

“However my aim now’s to enhance the crew, win video games and I’ll attempt to win this sport.”

Among the many areas for enchancment is the type of André Onana.

The goalkeeper impressively overcame a troublesome begin to life at United final season, however has faltered in current matches and allowed the opening aim in Thursday evening’s Europa League comeback victory at Viktoria Plzen.

Onana’s poor move was damaged up and led to Matej Vydra’s aim for Plzen, earlier than United substitute Rasmus Hojlund’s double sealed a 2-1 victory.

“You must take it as it’s,” Amorim stated of the goalkeeper’s kind. “He’s had a state of affairs like this previously, so we’ve got to work on it.

Sport

I won’t manage another club after Manchester City…

“When you see the sport, we are attempting to construct plenty of issues with the goalkeeper who typically does rebounds (passes) with Matta (De Ligt).

“This time we disconnected a bit through the sport and after we attempt that we scored a aim. A troublesome aim for us at (the beginning of) the second half.

“However we managed immediately, not like towards Nottingham, to assist Onana like he did for us previously.”