City’s poor form continued with a 1-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, marking just one win in their last 10 outings. In contrast, United secured a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday. As the Portuguese gears up for his first Manchester derby this weekend, Amorim maintained that Manchester City remain the favorites to win at the Etihad Stadium despite their recent difficulties.
“The great teams can respond in 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,” Amorim said. “Even in this kind of moment, we have a lot to focus on in our team. We will face a great opponent, and I’m more focused on our problems. We have a lot of issues here.”
“It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and it is not that at this moment. Both teams are struggling in the moment, so I hope in future I can feel that real feeling of a derby [that has title implications.” Amorim added.
🎥-🔴 Ruben Amorim still expects a big challenge despite Man City bad form
🗣️ “They are so good on what they do, they can change this momentum anytime, I think we have BIGGER problem…”
[📽️-@SkySportsPL ] pic.twitter.com/TClRWw9zbQ
— Beyond United (@BeyondUTD1) December 14, 2024
Both Manchester clubs are struggling with inconsistency, with United in 13th place in the Premier League and City trailing behind Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the title race. This derby is set against an unusual backdrop, as neither team is in a dominant position. Reflecting on the rivalry, Amorim expressed disappointment that the match lacks title implications, hoping for a future where the derby returns to being a pivotal clash in the hunt for major trophies.
Amorim has stressed the significance of prioritizing United’s rebuilding process. Since joining, he has worked to instill his vision for the club, but recent performances underscore the persistent challenges they face. Notably, Amorim’s tenure at Sporting CP includes a memorable 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League. He was also rumored to be a candidate for the City managerial role before Guardiola extended his contract, but Amorim maintains that joining United was always his top priority.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
