Pep Guardiola has spoken highly of Ruben Amorim, praising him as an exceptional manager, much like those who have recently graced the Manchester United touchline. With United moving swiftly to appoint the talented Sporting coach following the dismissal of Erik Ten Hag, the spotlight is on Amorim as he approaches a pivotal moment in his career.
Manchester City has already made strides in securing Sporting’s talent this season by hiring Hugo Viana to succeed Txiki Begiristain at the end of the current campaign. However, Guardiola emphasizes that Amorim is not a frontrunner to take over at City, particularly as Guardiola remains firmly in his position. Should Amorim step into the role at Old Trafford, he would become the seventh manager, and the fourth permanent one, to take the reins while Guardiola has been at the helm of City.
The two teams clashed in the Champions League round of 16 just two years ago, with City emerging victorious, winning 5-0 in Lisbon and drawing 0-0 at home. Guardiola’s assessment of Amorim’s coaching prowess is rooted in these encounters.
“All I can comment on is the experience of playing against Ruben’s Sporting Lisbon team a couple of seasons ago, where the pressure was truly impressive,” Guardiola stated. “I’ve spoken with Matheus Nunes, who played for him, and he speaks highly of Amorim. This season, he’s unbeaten and winning games in both the Portuguese League and the Champions League, matching our points tally.”
He continued, “If Manchester United are considering him, it’s because he’s a good manager. United doesn’t hire anyone who isn’t at that level. So over the last five, six, or seven years, we can’t say they lack the ability to lead the club.”
However, Guardiola cautions against making assumptions based solely on his experiences. “What happens here doesn’t necessarily mean it will work elsewhere. Every manager interacts differently with their team, club structures, physios, doctors, and players. There are many factors at play.”
Ultimately, Guardiola respects the complexity of managerial roles and recognizes that Amorim’s future remains uncertain despite his commendable qualifications.
