Amorim leads Sporting to a big win over Man City in his last home game with the team.
When does a small setback become a worrying trend? Pep Guardiola tackled this question before the match and highlighted Man City’s history of impressive wins. However, after losing three games in a row – for the first time since April 2018 – the team’s upcoming match at Brighton is crucial to regain momentum.
Two years ago, Ruben Amorim’s Sporting side were thrashed 5-0 by a dominating performance from City. In his final home match as Sporting’s manager, Amorim earned praise from some Manchester United fans, with some even comparing him to “the new Ferguson” as he had predicted, especially after beating their City rivals.
As the match ended, Amorim applauded Sporting’s fans, enjoyed a lap of honour and was joined by his players in celebration. With 10 points in the Champions League, he leaves Sporting in a good position, while City trail with seven points. Amorim plans to officially bring his 3-4-3 tactics to Manchester United on Nov. 11.
It was a bittersweet evening at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, with the atmosphere high and “Sweet Caroline” playing for Amorim’s farewell. The game started poorly for Sporting when Phil Foden stole the ball and scored past Franco Israel.
For City, who had recently lost to Tottenham and Bournemouth, the early goal was a relief, but defensive frailties soon came to the fore. Victor Gyokeres took advantage of a defensive lapse, nearly scoring, although his effort against Ederson missed the target. The close call indicated the challenges City would face as the game progressed.