Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Sporting Lisbon, who is set to assume the managerial role at Manchester United next week, has praised Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, as the finest coach globally on Monday, November 4.
“City have the best team in the world and the best coach in the world,” Amorim told ‘Sport TV’.
Following Manchester City’s 5-0 aggregate victory over Sporting in the last 16 of the competition in 2022, Amorim acknowledged that while he has developed as a coach since that time, a significant gap still exists between his capabilities and those of Guardiola.
“I feel like I’m a better coach (now), unfortunately what I feel is that Pep Guardiola has also become an even better coach, so the gap remains,” Amorim told a news conference.
“Pep Guardiola was an inspiration to many of us coaches, as well as others.”
Guardiola secured the Champions League title with City in 2023 and has guided United’s rivals to six league championships.
Manchester United invested 11 million euros ($12 million) to acquire “one of the most promising and highly regarded young coaches in European football,” as stated in their announcement regarding Amorim’s impending arrival.
Currently positioned 13th in the Premier League standings, the Red Devils dismissed Erik ten Hag a week ago and appointed the 39-year-old in hopes of restoring the club to its former glory.
Amorim led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2021 and successfully defended it the following season. He mentioned that a significant defeat against City could potentially alleviate some of the pressure he will face upon his arrival at Old Trafford.
“If the result is very negative, expectations will drop and I don’t think that’s a bad starting point, when you begin at Manchester United. If we win tomorrow, they’ll think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived, which is very difficult to maintain”, Amorim said.
“What matters to me is winning the game, having a good farewell in Alvalade (stadium), winning in Braga and then starting a new life in Manchester.”
He noted that the Champions League match in Lisbon will be under intense scrutiny due to his upcoming transition to the north of England.
“I’m fully aware that I’m going to be judged as a manager on this game, and only on this game, and I realise what (people) can take from this depending on the result,” added Amorim. “Losing a game, especially to City, is not a failure.”
Amorim will be in charge for one more league game after City, away at Braga on Sunday.
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