Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Manchester City remain the favorites for Sunday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium, despite the Premier League champions enduring a rough patch of seven losses in their last 10 matches across all competitions.
City’s 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday extended their slump, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side with only one win in the last 10 games. Meanwhile, United scraped a 2-1 comeback victory over FC Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday.
Amorim, preparing for his first Manchester derby since taking over at Old Trafford, highlighted City’s tactical understanding and resilience as reasons they pose a significant threat, even during a challenging period.
“The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in terms of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have,” Amorim said. “Even in this kind of moment, 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.”
Both Manchester clubs are battling inconsistency. United sit 13th in the Premier League table, while City have fallen behind Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the title race. This derby comes against an unusual backdrop, with neither team in a commanding position. Reflecting on the rivalry, Amorim lamented the lack of title implications in the current contest, expressing hope for a future where the derby would once again be a decisive clash in the race for major trophies.
“It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and it is not that at this moment,” Amorim noted. “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].”
Amorim has emphasized the importance of focusing on United’s rebuild. Since his arrival, he has tried to implement his vision for the club, though recent performances highlight ongoing challenges.
One key issue has been the form of goalkeeper André Onana, who has come under scrutiny after high-profile mistakes, including one in Thursday’s Europa League win and another in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Amorim, however, has defended his No. 1.
“You have to take it like it is,” Amorim said. “We have to work on this… When we try this, we sometimes suffer goals, but we managed [against Plzen], not like against Nottingham. We managed to help Onana, like he did in the past for us.”
Interestingly, Amorim’s past with Sporting CP includes a memorable 4-1 victory over City in the Champions League. He was also linked to the City managerial role before Guardiola signed a contract extension, but he insists his move to United was always his priority.
“When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts,” Amorim said. “With Manchester City or [close friend Hugo] Viana? Nothing about that.”
