Amorim: Manchester City Still Favorites Despite Slump

Amorim: Manchester City Still Favorites for Derby Despite Recent Struggles

As the Manchester derby looms on the horizon, Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s head coach, has stirred the pot with his candid assessment of the two teams. Despite Manchester City’s recent slump, which includes losing seven of their last 10 games, Amorim believes Pep Guardiola’s side is still in a “better place” than his own squad heading into Sunday’s showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

City’s recent form has been far from their usual dominant selves. Their latest setback came in the form of a Champions League defeat to Juventus on Wednesday, leaving the Premier League champions with just one win in their last 10 matches. For a team that has set the standard for excellence in English football, this is uncharted territory.

Meanwhile, Manchester United managed to scrape out a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FC Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday. While the win provided a much-needed morale boost, it’s clear that United is still a work in progress under Amorim’s leadership.

Amorim’s Honest Take on the Derby

Amorim, who is preparing for his first Manchester derby, didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges his team faces. “The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have,” Amorim said. “Even in this kind of moments, 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.”

United currently sits 13th in the Premier League table, a far cry from their glory days. City, while struggling, remains in the thick of the title race, trailing behind Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea. The two Manchester clubs have clashed for the Premier League trophy in the past, most notably in 2012 and 2013, but this season’s derby lacks the high-stakes drama of those years.

Rebuilding for the Future

Amorim is optimistic that his United rebuild will eventually restore the derby’s significance in the title race. “I cannot treat it like a normal derby,” he admitted. “It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and it is not that in this moment. So it is just one more game with a very good opponent. 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].”

Before taking the reins at Old Trafford, Amorim was linked with the Manchester City job. However, Guardiola’s decision to sign a new contract put an end to those rumors. Amorim insists that United was always his first choice. “Never,” he said when asked if he considered joining City. “I never heard from them, and this was my only option. When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts.”

Backing Onana Despite Mistakes

One of the more pressing issues for Amorim has been the form of goalkeeper André Onana. The Cameroonian international has come under fire for a series of costly mistakes, including a blunder against Viktoria Plzen and a disastrous performance in the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, where a speculative shot from Morgan Gibbs-White slipped through his hands.

Amorim, however, has stood by his goalkeeper. “You have to take it like it is,” he said. “He had already, in the past, a past situation like that. We have to work on this. If you see the play, we are trying to build up a lot with the goalkeeper making the bounce [pass] with Matthijs [De Ligt]. This time we have a disconnect a little bit during the play. And when we try this, we suffered a goal. A difficult goal for us.”

Despite the setbacks, Amorim praised his team’s resilience in the Plzen match. “We managed [against Plzen], not like against Nottingham. We managed to help Onana, like he did in the past for us.”

What’s at Stake?

As the derby approaches, here are three key takeaways:

• City’s Form: With just one win in their last 10 matches, City is far from their best, but their pedigree makes them dangerous.
• United’s Struggles: Sitting 13th in the table, United is still finding its footing under Amorim’s leadership.
• Goalkeeper Woes: André Onana’s form will be under the microscope after recent mistakes.

While this derby may lack the title implications of years past, it’s still a crucial match for both teams. For City, it’s a chance to steady the ship. For United, it’s an opportunity to show progress under Amorim. Either way, Sunday’s clash promises to be a fascinating chapter in the storied rivalry between Manchester’s two footballing giants.