Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says he never spoke to rivals Manchester City about becoming Pep Guardiola’s replacement ahead of his his first derby in charge.
The 39-year-old left Sporting to replace Erik ten Hag in late October, when he had been linked to City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.
The fact Sporting director of football Hugo Viana is taking that role at the Etihad Stadium next summer added an extra dimension, but Amorim insists the Old Trafford post was his only ambition.
Asked if he ever had a conversation about the prospect of joining City at any point, Amorim said: “Never. Never had and this was my only option.
“When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts because I had already something in my mind (that) it could be a possibility.
“With Manchester City or Hugo Viana? Nothing about that.”
ℹ️ Ruben shares a team news update ahead of the Manchester derby 👇#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 13, 2024
Guardiola ended speculation about his future shortly after Amorim stepped foot in Manchester, with the City boss signing an extension until 2027.
But City have won just once in their last 10 matches in all competitions, with seven of those games ending in defeat.
One of those losses was masterminded by Amorim, whose Sporting side secured a stunning 4-1 Champions League triumph as he waited to take the reins at United.
“I never think about these things,” Amorim said. “We will face a great opponent and I’m more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of issues here.
“I’m more focused on what we should do on Sunday to win the game, so I’m really focused on my team.”
Asked if United are facing a different, weaker City, he said: “No, no, no, no.
“The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in the type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have. Even in these kind of moments.
“We have a lot to focus on in our team. Of course we have a strategy to try to win the game with the strategy like it should be, but we are focused just on our team.”
‘We will help Onana’
Andre Onana won’t want to see that again 🫣
A gift from the United keeper and Reading old-boy Matej Vydra pounces to put Plzen ahead 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fHlsdddhgp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has wobbled in recent matches and gave away the opening goal during Thursday night’s Europa League comeback win at Viktoria Plzen.
Onana’s poor pass was cut out and led to Matej Vydra’s goal for Plzen, before United substitute Rasmus Hojlund’s brace sealed a 2-1 victory.
“You have to take it like it is,” Amorim said of his goalkeeper’s form. “He had already in the past a past situation like that, so we have to work on this.
“If you see the play, we are trying to build up a lot with the goalkeeper making the bounce (pass) with Matta (De Ligt) a lot of times.
“We managed to help Onana like he did in the past for us.”
