‘I never spoke with City, says Amorim’

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, when he was linked with City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.

The fact that sporting director of football Hugo Viana will take up the role at the Etihad Stadium next summer has added an extra dimension, but Amorim insists that a place at Old Trafford was his only ambition.

Asked if he had ever discussed the prospect of joining City at any point, Amorim said: “Never. I never did and this was my only option.

“When Manchester United spoke to me, I had no doubts because I already had something in mind (that) it could be a possibility.

“With Manchester City or Hugo Vian? Nothing about that.”

ℹ️ Ruben shares news about the team ahead of the derby in Manchester 👇#MUFC || #PL

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 13, 2024

Guardiola ended speculation over his future shortly after Amorim made his move to Manchester, with the City boss signing an extension until 2027.

But City have won just once in their last 10 games in all competitions, with seven of those games ending in defeat.

One of those losses was mastermind Amor, whose Sporting side secured an incredible 4-1 Champions League triumph while he waited to take charge at United.

“I never think about those things,” Amorim said. “We’re going to face a big opponent and I’m more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of problems here.

“I’m more focused on what we need to do on Sunday to win the game, so I’m really focused on my team.”

Asked if United would face another, weaker City, he said: “No, no, no, no.

“Big teams can respond at any moment and I think they are in a better place than us in terms of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have. Even in moments like these.

“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 it should be, but we are only focused on our team.”

‘We will help Onana’

Andre Onana won’t want to see that anymore 🫣

A gift from the United goalkeeper and Matej Vydra, the old boy of Reading, rushes and brings Plzen forward 😱

📺 @tntsports and @otkrićeplusUK pic.twitter.com/fHlsdddhgp

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has faltered in recent games and scored the first goal during the Europa League comeback win against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday night.

Onana’s poor pass was cut out to lead to Matej Vydra’s goal for Plzen, before United substitute Rasmus Hojlund’s goal sealed a 2-1 win.

“You have to take it as it is,” Amorim said of his goalkeeper’s form. “He has already had such a situation in the past, so we have to work on it.

“If you see the game, we try to build a lot with the goalkeeper who bounces (passes) a lot with Matt (De Ligt).

“We were able to help Onan as he did to us in the past.”