Despite not taking charge of Manchester United until the 11th of November, a huge Champions League win on Tuesday night will have already made Ruben Amorim a very popular figure with the Manchester United fanbase.
In his last home game as Sporting Lisbon’s manager, his side came from behind to secure an unlikely 4-1 win against Manchester City, the perfect way to close out his Estádio José Alvalade account.
Foden put the Premier League champions a goal ahead within the first five minutes, but the home side were level by half-time, scoring three further goals in the second half, including two penalties, to round off their evening.
With just one more game with Sporting, a league game away to Braga on the 10th of November, the victory against Guardiola almost has a feeling of a first battle won for Manchester United supporters.
There has been much talk about how Amorim could replicate his tactics at Old Trafford, and Tuesday night's mauling of City was certainly a good indication of what could be to come if he's able to do so.
Although a different level of pressure awaits Amorim in the Premier League, a win against the Champions is certainly a statement in his last week at Sporting and, if they didn’t already have it, will give fans, and perhaps players, a confidence boost as the new boss steps out at Old Trafford.
Amorim started his managerial career at Casa Pia in 2018, before moving to Braga B in 2019, being promoted to the first team later that season. He moved to Sporting in 2020, winning their first league title in 19 years in the 2020/21 season, and then went on to win it again in the 2023/24 campaign.
In his managerial career, he has also won 3 Taça de Liga trophies and he has won the Portugal Super Cup once.
A successful manager in Portugal, he will now have to adapt to the challenges of the Premier League, not only in terms of the level of competition but also in terms of the position that the club is in.
Ahead of Matchday 11, United sit 13th in the Premier League table, having scored just 12 points from 10 games. This poor run has included only three league wins, only one of which has come in the last six.
Despite poor league form, it has to be noted that the FA Cup and Carabao Cup are still on the cards for United, with a tie against Spurs in the League Cup due to take place in mid-December; United will enter the FA Cup at the Third Round stage in January.
December will be a huge month for Amorim and United, featuring the first Manchester Derby of the season, perhaps an even bigger game than usual for the two sides after Amorim’s 4-1 victory over Guardiola in the week.
The final month of the year also brings a trip to Arsenal, a home game with potential rivals for European football Newcastle and two vital Europa League fixtures as well as that Carabao Cup quarter-final against Spurs.
Looking at this, with the league being difficult to rescue, it is still possible for Amorim to win a trophy in his first season at United, despite the poor form that the club is experiencing, and retaining their FA Cup title will surely be on the minds of many at the club.
The Europa League is also a trophy very much up for grabs for United. Despite only picking up their first win in the competition on Thursday night, the Red Devils are unbeaten in Europe this season.
They sit three points outside the automatic last 16 places and have a two-point cushion to the elimination places after the 2 - 0 victory over Greek side PAOK.
Therefore, the unknown in this is how quickly Amorim can adapt his style to English football, and overcome the challenges at United to change the narrative at the club, but it is certain that, for many, his victory over Manchester City feels like a first win and a perfect way to make a statement before moving to Manchester.
More of the same would be more than welcome at Old Trafford.
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