Before Sunday’s derby in Manchester, Pep Guardiola was asked the inevitable question he has been asked since Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018. Will this United manager succeed? The answer was blunt, Sunday’s Premier League confirmed Guardiola’s claim.
The last time they met was in the summer in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag led United to victory, a victory that convinced Ratcliffe and INEOS that the Dutchman was the one. Last autumn, Pep Guardiola said that they were still hungover at Wembley after celebrating the Premier League title. Anyway, on Sunday it’s time for a city derby again, this time at Eithad without Ten Hag. Guardiola knew it would be tougher.
“His influence is already evident. You can see the patterns, the movements, the races, the pace. He’s doing a good job, I’m sure he’ll succeed,” the Manchester City manager said at Friday’s press conference, according to the BBC.
I don’t think, but I know Amorim will succeed.
Manchester City programmatically scored the first goal, Ruben Amorim never left the game plan and never let the United players slow down until the referee decided the game was over. It worked, two late goals quieted down the light blue part of the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola was right. Ruben Amorim adds something Erik ten Hag never came close to achieving. We may have witnessed the first step towards a change of throne in Manchester.
