Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says he never spoke to rivals Manchester City about becoming Pep Guardiola’s replacement ahead of his first derby in charge.
The 39-year-old left Sporting to replace Erik ten Hag at the end of October, having been linked with City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.
The fact that football sporting director Hugo Viana will take up that role at the Etihad Stadium next summer added an extra dimension, but Amorim insists the Old Trafford position was his only ambition.
Asked if he had ever had a discussion about the prospect of joining City at some point, Amorim said: “Never. I never had and this was my only option.
“When Manchester United spoke to me, I had no doubt because I already had something in my mind (that) it could be a possibility.
“With Manchester City or Hugo Viana?” Nothing about it.”
ℹ️ Ruben shares an update on team news ahead of the Manchester derby 👇#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 13, 2024
Guardiola ended speculation over his future shortly after Amorim’s move to 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 them ending in defeat.
One of those defeats was the brainchild of Amorim, whose Sporting side secured a stunning 4-1 Champions League triumph as they waited to take the reins at United.
“I never think about these things,” Amorim said. “We will face a big opponent and I am more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of issues here.
“I’m more focused on what we have to do on Sunday to win the game, so I’m really focused on my team.”
Asked if United face a different, weaker City, he said: “No, no, no, no.
“The big teams can respond at any time and I think they are in a better position than us in terms of the way they understand the game, the way they play, the confidence they have. Even at times like this.
“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 as it should be, but we are only focused on our team.”
“We will help Onana”
Andre Onana won’t want to see it again 🫣
A gift from United goalkeeper and Reading old boy Matej Vidra puts Plzen ahead 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fHlsdddhgp
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has wobbled in recent matches and conceded the opening goal in Thursday night’s Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen.
Onana’s poor pass was intercepted and led to Matej Vydra’s goal for Plzen, before United substitute Rasmus Hojlund sealed a 2-1 victory.
“You have to take it as it is,” Amorim said of his goalkeeper’s form. “He’s already had a situation like this in the past, so we have to work on it.
“If you watch the game, we try to build a lot with the goalkeeper doing the bounce (pass) with Matta (De Ligt) a lot of times.
“We were able to help Onana as he has done for us in the past.”
