Coach Ruben Amorim expressed his joy as Sporting Lisbon defeated Man City 4-1 in a perfect match, showcasing an efficient attack and a remarkable comeback to secure three points for the Portuguese team. However, Amorim also acknowledged that it would be challenging for MU to adopt Sporting Lisbon’s style of play at this time.
On the morning of November 6, Ruben Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon surprised many by defeating the title contender Man City 4-1 in the fourth match of the 2024/25 Champions League group stage.
Speaking after the game, Amorim, while very pleased, admitted that Sporting Lisbon’s win involved some luck: “Please don’t misunderstand; we were a bit lucky today.
When I move to the Premier League, it will be a completely different world and pressure, that’s for sure. This victory doesn’t hold any specific meaning regarding my upcoming role at MU. Don’t take anything from this win to compare it with other things.”
Analyzing the victory over Man City further, Amorim shared, “It couldn’t have been better. The first half was tough; we didn’t have control of the ball and felt nervous, but when we scored the equalizer just before halftime, everything changed.
Of course, those two goals at the start of the second half helped a lot, changing the game completely. The atmosphere was fantastic, like a farewell written in the stars. My players delivered an outstanding performance.
We had an incredible second half, scoring four goals against Man City and winning, which was truly beyond expectations. The boys deserve all the praise, and the support from the fans in the stands cannot be overlooked.”
Additionally, the Portuguese coach emphasized, “We can’t transfer one reality to another. MU won’t be able to play in the same way as Sporting Lisbon, but I will have to adapt to a new environment. With Sporting Lisbon, I have a special connection with my players and the fans.”
Earlier, MU’s management announced Amorim’s appointment as the new head coach on November 1. He will continue coaching Sporting until the match against Braga in the Portuguese league on November 10. After that, Amorim will officially start at MU and make his debut when the English club faces Ipswich Town on November 24.
What did Guardiola say after the defeat to Sporting Lisbon?
Man City manager Pep Guardiola didn’t make excuses for his team’s loss to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal: “There isn’t much to say when Man City loses 1-4. Congratulations to Sporting Lisbon for an impressive performance in this match.
We had an excellent first 45 minutes but didn’t capitalize on all the chances we created. On the other hand, we conceded too easily.
Emotionally, we lacked stability. When the score was 2-1, anything could have happened. The players need to stay calm and avoid collapsing when the situation gets tough.”
Bernardo Silva was also disappointed with the heavy loss, saying, “It’s disappointing because we’re currently in a bad place with too many injuries.
Everything seems to be going wrong. Even when Man City plays well, we’re not scoring and are conceding far too easily.”