Ruben Amorim will lead his Sporting side in a Champions League clash against Manchester City before jetting to England to take charge of Manchester United.
The European tie will be Amorim’s penultimate match in charge of the Portuguese giants, having received a mixed reaction from the home crowd in Sporting’s 5-1 victory over Estrela da Amadora.
Overall, the crowd inside the Estadio Jose Alvalade was split in two. Amorim received a standing ovation for the work he has done since taking charge in 2020, but others were furious at the decision to leave.
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United have paid an extra fee to poach Amorim early, amid a stipulation in his Sporting contract to give 30 days' notice before leaving, which has now been waived as they hunt for a successor.
Amidst what Amorim has described as a “soap opera” there is still a very important task at hand. Sporting have two games before their head coach departs for Old Trafford, starting at home to Pep Guardiola’s outfit and then travelling to Braga in a bid to extend their perfect Liga Portugal record.
Sporting are unbeaten in their opening three Champions League matches, winning against Lille and Sturm Graz before drawing away to PSV. City, however, provide a much tougher test and Amorim will soon get a taste of life against Premier League opposition.
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And even though further backlash from the stands could take place when City arrive in Lisbon, Amorim has vowed to take any hostility on the chin.
"In the next home game, whether we win or lose by 15-0, I'll be there to see what the fans want to give me,” Amorim said. “I understand their anger, but we move on and time heals everything. Being Sporting manager was the best period of my life.
“But I have to make my decisions and I take them naturally. I understand their pain, but we move on and time heals everything."
Amorim was very grateful for the round of applause he received after stepping out of the tunnel, having built such a strong bond with the Sporting fanbase, a feat he will hope to replicate in Manchester while turning their current fortunes around.
"It wasn’t a normal week,” Amorim explained after finally being announced as the next United boss. “Of course, I felt different this week. I understand the anger and disappointment of some fans, but that’s life. I was moved by today’s ovation.
“I’m already in task mode, I’m very grateful to all the fans, to everyone here. Today I did the same as always, I only thank the fans when we lose, as we won, today I went back to the dressing room.”
