Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola couldn’t resist the temptation to stick the knife into Manchester United after his side were humbled by Ruben Amorim’s Sporting on Tuesday night. The Citizens were thrashed 4-1 in the Champions League by the Portuguese giants in Amorim’s final home game in charge of the Lisbon outfit before he takes the helm at Old Trafford.
Guardiola will face Amorim for the first time in a Premier League encounter when the Red Devils visit the Etihad Stadium in mid-December.
But the Spaniard was quick to remind United that he won’t come face-to-face with Amorim in the Champions League again this season as the 39-year-old’s new club failed to qualify for the competition.
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“We will face them two times in the Premier League and maybe the FA Cup,” Guardiola explained after Tuesday’s defeat as he discussed the prospect of pitting his wits against Amorim in Manchester. “In the Champions League it is not possible.”
United endured a miserable campaign in the Premier League last season under Erik ten Hag as their eighth-place finish was their lowest since the competition’s rebrand over 30 years ago. But they did stun City in the FA Cup final to clinch the trophy and secure a spot in the Europa League.
United currently find themselves 21st in the Europa League table after drawing their first three matches. And the Red Devils are in desperate need of the immediate boost that Amorim’s arrival could bring after falling to 13th in the Premier League table.
City made the perfect start against Sporting as Phil Foden fired the ball into the back of the net in the opening five minutes after dispossessing Hidemasa Morita.
The visitors appeared to be in full control of proceedings in the early exchanges and should have extended their lead on a couple of occasions.
But they were wasteful in front of goal and were made to pay for their profligacy as Sporting hit back through Viktor Gyokeres before the break.
Amorim’s final half time team talk in the home dressing room at Estadio Jose Alvalade ultimately proved to be an inspiring one as Maximiliano Araujo nudged Sporting ahead 20 seconds into the second period. Gyokeres then put the hosts 3-1 up from the penalty spot three minutes later.
Erling Haaland’s recent struggles in front of goal continued when he saw a penalty cannon back off the crossbar with 20 minutes remaining.
And former Coventry striker Gyokeres completed his hat-trick with his second penalty of the night 10 minutes from the end.
