Amorim Prioritizes Manchester United’s Internal Issues Ahead of Derby

Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United manager has seen him secure three victories, one draw, and two defeats across six matches. Ahead of Sunday’s derby clash at Etihad Stadium, Ruben Amorim stated that Manchester United’s attention is directed towards their “own problems” instead of the difficulties faced by their rivals, Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions, City, have recorded only one victory in their last ten matches across all competitions, suffering seven defeats during this period. This performance has led to them falling to fourth place in the league standings, eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who also possess a game in hand. While Amorim has achieved three wins in his six matches at the helm across all competitions, United have experienced consecutive Premier League losses, placing them 13th in the table. Despite Manchester City’s current poor form, the Portuguese manager commented: “I never think about these things. We will face a great opponent and I’m more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of issues here. “I’m more focused on what we should do on Sunday to win the game, so I’m really focused on my team.” When questioned about the prospect of facing a weaker City team – a side his former club Sporting defeated 4-1 in a Champions League home fixture in November – Amorim responded: “No, no, no, no. “The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in the type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have. Even in these kind of moments.”We have a lot to focus on in our team. Of course we have a strategy to try to win the game with the strategy like it should be, but we are focused just on our team.” Amorim additionally refuted claims of ever engaging in discussions with City regarding the possibility of replacing Pep Guardiola as manager. The 39-year-old was extensively linked to the position during his time as Sporting manager, with speculation growing further when Hugo Viana, the Portuguese club’s director of football, agreed to transfer to the Etihad the following summer. United promptly appointed Amorim after dismissing Erik ten Hag in late October. Subsequently, Guardiola put an end to speculation about his own future by signing a new two-year contract the next month. Regarding the links to City, Amorim stated: “Never. Never had and this [United] was my only option.”When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts because I had already something in my mind [that] it could be a possibility.”With Manchester City or Hugo Viana? Nothing about that.”