Recent years have seen Manchester United's reputation fail to intimidate their opposition.
From a time where United once beat some sides before even stepping on the pitch, the Red Devils have more often than usual provided an opportunity to gain three points against a Premier League giant. But, should Ruben Amorim arrive, he may leave a few managers sweating ahead of their meetings in the division.
United are in discussions over prising the 39-year-old away from Sporting CP after sacking Erik ten Hag earlier this week. Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in charge on an interim basis with United pushing to land their new boss.
Amorim has spent his entire coaching career in Portugal, taking charge of Casa Pia, Braga and Sporting. As a result, the prospective United boss has rarely come up against English opposition with European competition providing the only route.
While leading Sporting to two domestic titles, Amorim has taken on Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City. Despite more limited resources he has done pretty well, and impressed Pep Guardiola.
"All I can talk about is the experience of playing twice against Ruben’s Sporting Lisbon team, one or two seasons ago, and the pressure was really, really good," the City boss said.
"I spoke with Matheus Nunes, and he was his player, and he speaks highly about him. And look this season, he is unbeaten and winning all the games in the Portuguese League and the Champions League the same points as us.
"So a high manager. I hear that Man United are thinking about him, it’s because he’s a good manager. Man United don’t appoint managers who aren’t that level so the last five, six, seven years, we cannot say they are not able to lead Man United.
"What’s going to happen I don’t know, because what happened here in my experience here, doesn’t mean it works for the other one."
Early in his tenure, Amorim was drawn against Manchester City in the Champions League. After navigating the group stage, the former Benfica midfielder was presented with a formidable task for the round of 16.
It was a rude awakening for Amorim as his side went 4-0 down at home against City after 45 minutes as Riyad Mahrez, Bernado Silva, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling secured a 5-0 victory. The second leg was a goalless draw.
In 2022/23, Amorim took on both north London sides. Sporting were drawn against Spurs in the group stage of the Europa League.
Goals from Paulinho and Arthur in the 90th and 93rd minute respectively earned a win over the Lilywhites at the José Alvalade Stadium. Ex-Spurs youngster Marcus Edwards netted against his former side to hand Sporting a first half lead against Tottenham before Rodrigo Bentancur produced an equaliser.
The last-16 of the competition saw Amorim's side come from a goal behind to lead 2-1 against Arsenal but an own-goal ensured the first leg ended honours even. After going be to a Granit Xhaka goal, Sporting fought back through Pedro Goncalves to force penalties.
The Lions progressed in the competition as they won 6-4 in the shooutout. Gabriel Martinelli missed for the Gunners as Nuno Santos scored the winning effort.
Amorim vs Premier League.
Sporting 0-5 Manchester City February 2022
Manchester City 0-0 Sporting March 2022
Sporting 2-0 Tottenham September 2022
Tottenham 1-1 Sporting October 2022
Sporting 2-2 Arsenal March 2023
Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (5-3 on penalties) March 2023
yeobcdlmt
0
United has sacked so many coaches, time will come when they will not see any coaches to appoint.
Cry baby
biudnoptyz
0
Utd is good at spoiling managers' profile and Amorim is coming but his CV will go like dat of 10 hag, Van Boy, Moyees Jose Mourinho and the rest since Alex left
city_parasite
0
United has sacked so many coaches, time will come when they will not see any coaches to appoint.
ShaneDoe
0
The man has not yet left sporting cp but the English media is already all over him
fuubilntz
1
whenever a new caoch comes to united he alwayd praised.But after they are beaten twice, the coach is humilated......let him come and taste the premier league team's powers.
Puheilny
0
Its better to leave Ruud Van Nistroy as Manutd Interim coach rather than employing a "baby" Coach for the Club.
Who is the baby Coach, if I may ask
RoshanNemchand
0
Come we cook you 5-0 again
5-0? in ur dream
Pebbekmoyz
1
Come we cook you 5-0 again
Tisaceiknz
0
Amorin. welcome to the hot kitchen. Let's wait for the results before we make judgements.
Kimon2
0
if RVN can do what ETH has never done the I expect same or more from Amirom ....RVN twisted the tactics yesterday when liche got 2 goals back he brought Hojlund in the put zek behind the striker and push bruno side and the best part is that he didn't change for sub sake making those subs the right ones
Hujlund never played the match bro 😎
Suwceikmu
0
if RVN can do what ETH has never done the I expect same or more from Amirom ....RVN twisted the tactics yesterday when liche got 2 goals back he brought Hojlund in the put zek behind the striker and push bruno side and the best part is that he didn't change for sub sake making those subs the right ones
momenhuda
0
Man u recent all expensive signing flop or injury porn, they cant spend more, this will be main problem of him.
Rashford111
2
in Manchester United, players have power more than the coach, they've sacked many managers.
puhablnops
1
Its better to leave Ruud Van Nistroy as Manutd Interim coach rather than employing a "baby" Coach for the Club.
lukikmnrsz
2
Unless he changes the current crop of players, he will fail when they turn against him.
maickymaikos
3
Amorim stats ⚽ place him way higher in performance index at mufc 💯⚽ #Glory Glory is coming home 👌
Gunnerneko
2
His record is with SP not ManU totally two different team and League
denadintuz
5
EPL not parallel to Portugis league and more over some time some managers system doesn't work with a team has been with a system 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, may cant adopt Amorim system. Furthermore ETH has bought player to suit his system. It will torrid situation for Amorim to get quick result. It's big ask for him to successful here... ETH who came with very good reputation but can't do it.. Wait and see..