Ruben Amorim has addressed the speculation surrounding his potential move to Manchester City, clarifying that there was never any direct contact from the club.
Amorim, who was appointed as Manchester United’s new manager last month after a successful stint with Sporting Lisbon, had been rumored as a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
His success in Portugal generated interest from various European clubs, including Liverpool, West Ham, and even Premier League champions Manchester City.
Despite Guardiola still being firmly in charge at City, Amorim’s name had been linked to the club as a future candidate to take over from the Spanish coach.
However, Amorim insists that no official discussions ever took place between him and City. He explained in a recent press conference: “Never, I never had [conversations].
This was my only option. When Manchester United approached me, I already had it in my mind that it could be a possibility, but there was nothing with Manchester City or Hugo Viana.”
Amorim, who now leads United, will face City in his first Manchester derby on Sunday, with the Red Devils heading to the Etihad.
Although Guardiola’s side is currently struggling by their usual standards, with just one win in their last 10 matches, Amorim remains cautious.
He is aware of City’s potential to bounce back at any moment, acknowledging their overall superiority in terms of tactical understanding and confidence.
Reflecting on his time at Sporting, where he guided the team to a 4-1 victory over City, Amorim emphasized the need for focus.
“Great teams can respond at any time, and City is in a better place than us in terms of game understanding and confidence,” he said.
“We’re focusing on ourselves and preparing with a strategy to win, but our main focus is what we need to do on Sunday.”
Amorim is determined to tackle the challenge, focusing primarily on his own team’s issues as they prepare for what promises to be a tough clash at the Etihad.