Sporting Lisbon's Swedish forward #09 Viktor Gyokeres (left) scored his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4 football match against Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on Tuesday. — AFP
Ruben Amorim maintained that Sporting Lisbon's remarkable 4-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League does not guarantee he will immediately turn around Manchester United's fortunes. Sporting's manager Amorim has agreed to replace Erik ten Hag at United and will officially assume control of the struggling Premier League club on November 11. Recognized as one of Europe's most promising young managers, the 39-year-old showcased his tactical prowess as Sporting exploited City's defensive vulnerabilities, exacerbated by injuries. Phil Foden gave City an early lead at the Jose Alvalade stadium, but the visitors failed to capitalize on several opportunities to extend their advantage, and Sporting capitalized on their mistakes.
Viktor Gyokeres equalized before halftime, and Maximiliano Araujo added Sporting's second goal after the break, followed by Gyokeres's penalty to complete their astonishing comeback with two penalties. Amorim, who guided Sporting to two Portuguese titles in four years, will oversee his first United match at Ipswich on November 24. However, he is too wise to believe one win signifies he can revive moribund United, who are experiencing their worst start to a season since 1986-87.
"What I can tell you is that this doesn't mean anything in particular, don't take anything from this," Amorim said. "It's misleading, we were very lucky today. We cannot transport one reality to another. Manchester United cannot play the way we play and we will have to adapt." Amorim was celebrated by Sporting fans throughout his final home game, and his jubilant players honored him with a memorable send-off by tossing him in the air after the final whistle.
"The feeling with my players, the moment with the fans was very special. So I take this to Premier League," he said. "When I arrive there it's a different world, a different pressure. I will try to be the same. It will be fun, very fun and I'm ready." Despite inflicting Guardiola's heaviest defeat since 2020, Amorim acknowledged the manager he must outperform over a full season, rather than just one game, if the balance of power in Manchester is to return to Old Trafford. City have won six titles in eight years under Guardiola, while United haven't been crowned champions since 2013.
"He is so much better than me at the moment. But I believe a lot in my newest club," Amorim said. "We will start from a lower level, maybe I can say that, and we will improve the team, the club. Let's see." Sweden striker Gyokeres would be a valuable asset to United's struggling attack, given his clinical performance against injury-hit City. The former Coventry striker has become a Champions League sensation this season, but Amorim said he doesn't anticipate bringing him to United.
"No, no. I cannot be funny with that in this moment. It was tough for me to leave. If I start to joke about that with Gyokeres then I have problems," he said. "This is my city, this is my country, so I will respect that Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life, maybe he is going somewhere else." Amorim took a long lap of honor after his perfect farewell victory, and Gyokeres is certain about his departing manager's qualities.
"We will miss him a lot. We've done amazing things together. We will miss him and the other guys in the staff who will leave," he said.
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