Newly named Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has confessed that he could have very well ended up at Man City instead of the Theatre of Dreams in a recent interview.
The Portuguese head coach, who is set to take over from United legend and interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy who stood in following Erik ten Hag’s sacking last month, has been admired by many clubs around Europe – most notably the higher-ups at the City Football Group (CFG).
With Pep Guardiola’s contract set to run out next summer and still no indication that he will be signing a new deal, CFG has been looking around for a potential successor and given his impressive start to life as a manager, Amorim has been considered as a strong candidate for a while.
Moreover, since his soon-to-be previous club’s sporting director Hugo Viana is set to replace Txiki Begiristain at City come the end of the season, it was thought Amorim was even more likely to follow suit and now the 39-year-old has admitted that it was an option he considered at point.
🚨🎥 – Ruben Amorim on Hugo Viana joining Man City:
"I chose United.
"Manchester United is MY CLUB, Manchester City is his club. It's going to be fun, and I hope to help United improve."
Speaking to inews.co.uk in the pre-match press conference ahead of his penultimate game in charge of Sporting as they rather fittingly prepare to face Man City in the Champions League, the former midfielder clarified that while the possibility had occurred to him, ultimately, his decision was clear.
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“Obviously, it’s something which crossed my mind but I never had any doubts. My decision has been made, that’s the club I want to work for, the context I want to be in, and where I want to continue my career […] When I decided on the club, I didn’t want anything else.
“It is a decision I thought about but was not undecided about it. I wanted Manchester United and that’s what I did.” That being said, it’s no secret that interest from the likes of Liverpool, West Ham and obviously City has been expressed in recent seasons.
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Despite asking to see out the current campaign, United also made it clear they wanted to secure his services as soon as possible, with Amorim describing the offer as a “now or never” opportunity.
Viana, meanwhile – the 41-year-old sporting director and fellow compatriot with over 300 club appearances as a player – was described as City’s “top target” heading into the New Year by Guardiola himself, insisting that both he and Amorim had impressed him on a coaching and recruitment level.
As seen above, he also reiterated the conviction behind choosing the Red half of the city in a subsequent chat with TNT Sports. You can see his full interview, in which he confesses he “will be friends until the end” but that both their focuses will be to simply improve their respective teams, down below:
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Amorim wished his friend nothing but the best at Man City but insists he must follow his ‘own path’.
Amorim’s record in Europe is one of the marks that has been held against his record in weighing up whether he’s the right appointment for Man United but, nevertheless, he takes on who he calls “the best coach and team in the world” on Wednesday night.
This is Man City and Sporting’s first meeting since 2022 when Guardiola‘s last visit to Lisbon’s José Alvalade Stadium saw his side deliver a 5-0 thrashing over Leões and Amorim was two years into the job.
It will also be his final game at the club’s home ground before his very last game in charge of the Liga Portugal title holders against his former employers, SC Braga, ironically, on Sunday. His first official day in charge of Man United will be Monday, 11 November.
Safe to say if he manages to get a result against Pep and the current Premier League champions it will not only put him in good stead with the Old Trafford faithful but ramp up expectations right from the off. All eyes will be on this game and many will no doubt already be questioning if he chose the right colour.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Agencia LUSA (via WikiCommons)/TNT Sports (via YouTube)
Sport
Cole Palmer picks up FSA Men’s Player of the Year for 2024
Danny Jones
Chelsea star Cole Palmer has officially won the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) Player of the Year Award for 2024 following what can only be called an incredible 12 months.
It’s been an unbelievable 12 months for the former Manchester City academy product and now England international, who is still only 22, having already notched eight goals and six assists in 15 games for his club this season.
The Wythenshawe-born winger, attacking midfielder and all-round dynamo has been virtually unplayable the entire calendar year, to be honest, becoming the fastest Chelsea player in history to reach 30 goals with his latest contribution this past weekend.
Picking up the award at this year’s ceremony held in London on Monday night, Cole Palmer becomes the first Chelsea player to ever win FSA Player of the Year, having done so with just over one full senior season under his belt.
Congratulations to @ChelseaFC forward Cole Palmer who picks up the award following a sensational 2024 – a clear favourite with the voting public. "Thank you to everyone who voted for me, it's an honour to be the first Chelsea player to win this award," Cole said. #CFCpic.twitter.com/36xN22ceRB
Registering 26 goal contributions in 2024 so far, he’s been one of the most prolific players not only in England but in European football full stop, and he’s no way near done yet.
With a busy Christmas period ahead thanks to the congested festive fixture list, you can expect him to add to that tally soon enough, having just scored a goal-of-the-season contender in the West London side’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Leading the league in chances created from open play (30) and so often being the match-winner in a team so overly saturated with talent – approximately £1.15 billion on a total of 39 players across the last five transfer windows – he’s worth his weight in gold.
Just a lad from Manchester who’s very good at kicking a ball.
Cole Palmer now has a goal or assist against 𝟭𝟴 of the 20 different opponents he's faced in the Premier League for Chelsea 🤯⚽️🅰️ pic.twitter.com/eCMOmkm94R
With well over half the season still to go and Enzo Maresca’s side finally looking like a team worthy of the money spent and able to compete at the top of the table, the question is how much more quality is there to come from him?
Currently third in the assists table (6) and not too far from the front of the Golden Boot race (8), we wouldn’t be surprised if you see the local lad picking up even more personal accolades come May.
Well done, Cole – we’ll be pulling out the Palmer celebration the first chance we get. Mainly because it’s December and we’re freezing…
Featured Images — Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Pep Guardiola fires back at Liverpool fans after ‘sacked in the morning chants’
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at Liverpool fans after chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” rang around Anfield this past weekend.
Not unlike this spell of seven games without a win – now six defeats and one draw – Guardiola has never really had those chants pointed in his direction before given that he’s one of the most successful managers in history, and it’s clear he was just as taken aback as those watching were.
The 2-0 loss to his title rivals marked four straight league defeats for the first time in Pep’s entire career and City‘s worst run since 2008, when the club was first bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
With that in mind, the home crowd certainly had fun at the Spaniard’s expense, and after the chanting continued, he was happy to respond with the facts both on the pitch and in the presser.
Having reminded the Kop End and co. of his time in England thus far, Guardiola went on to reiterate in his post-match press conference: “I’m so proud of my six Premier Leagues against that team and the previous team [under Jürgen Klopp].
While he applauded Arne Slot’s side for their performance, recognising that a trip to Merseyside is always difficult, he didn’t expect to hear the kind of chanting he did after conceding the second goal, and with time still to play against what is still one of the best teams in world football.
“Maybe I deserved to be sacked with our results! Maybe I’m still in the job because I won six Premier Leagues and a lot of titles. They want to sack me. I wish they were more kind. Why didn’t they do it at 0-1? Why didn’t they do it last season when we won the league? Why do they want to sack me now?
“I didn’t expect that from Anfield, for other clubs like Brighton I can understand it, but for Anfield, I didn’t expect this, maybe it is the [level of] respect we have. They know we have won six Premier Leagues. But it’s fine, it’s part of the game.”
🗣️ "I'm so proud of my six Premier Leagues against that team"
Pep Guardiola reacts after some Liverpool fans were heard chanting that he will be getting 'sacked in the morning' 🔹 pic.twitter.com/nMkFTx4b76
In a similar vein, replacement keeper Stefan Ortega (who stepped in for out-of-form Ederson) also said he had been told that the “area [Liverpool] is probably not the best part in the UK” and that his manager responded well to the taunting overall.
Meanwhile, as well as some much-needed levity and sarcasm, the 53-year-old did insist that his years in Manchester have “probably been the best of my life” and that he just wants his team back in their “prime” – we’re sure it won’t be long before we see the familiar City we’re all used to.
In fact, some interpreted Pep’s specific reaction after the full-time whistle as equal parts playful banter and actually admiring Anfield for the atmosphere its supporters create, having criticised the Etihad Stadium for a lack of noise more than once.
We’re not so sure but you can decide for yourself.
We had a good laugh today but I liked this from Guardiola. Had some fierce battles over the years but he's always been respectful of Liverpool and you can see how much he admires Anfield. https://t.co/qkZpb6POgB
With a promising Nottingham Forest team coming up on Wednesday – not to mention Forest being the only team to have beaten Liverpool in the Prem so far this season – the Catalan coach won’t just be hoping for a defiant home crowd but a desperately needed win if they are to stay in the race.
One thing is for sure, if Pep thinks these ‘sacked in the morning’ chants will be limited to Liverpool, he’s got another thing coming if they go even a goal down in the next game.
Do you think Pep deserves more respect as he suggested, or is behaviour like this completely fair game during derbies and title races?
You can watch his press conference in full down below:
Danny Jones -
5th November 2024 
