Now, their past matches have been lost for the first time since April 2018 under him, so Saturday's trip to Brighton is certainly about arresting the slide.
Two years ago, Rúben Amorim's Sporting were cuffed aside 5-0 in a grand City show of power-football. This last home match of Manchester United's incoming new manager, ended in him becoming, to sections of the Red Devils faithful, at least, the "new Ferguson", as he prophesied would occur should their crosstown rival be downed.
The 39-year-old did so by schooling Sporting on the quick break, then seeing this executed expertly as City were made chumps of.
City remain on seven points, Amorim leaves on 10 and driving Sporting's Champions League destiny. All this with the 3-4-3 shape he brings to United when starting work on 11 November.
"Sweet Caroline" rung out, the José Alvalade was below a sell-out and Amorim's home swansong had a terrible start.
The players had padded about swapping passes before Phil Foden pilfered possession from Hidemasa Morita. Sporting backed off so City's playmaker ranged into the area and fired past Franco Israel.
After City's reverses to Tottenham and Bournemouth this was welcome succour. But fragility was evident in a Gyökeres raid that took him clear. As Ederson advanced the Swede hoped to chip the goalkeeper, fluffed this, and the ball was collected.
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Edu's Arsenal exit will not stop progress, insists Arteta
Mikel Arteta has insisted Edu's departure as sporting director will not stop Arsenal's upward trajectory but admitted that losing one of his key allies came as a surprise.
Nothing to hide in my England setup, says Borthwick
Steve Borthwick has insisted he has nothing to hide about his England setup and believes his players are empowered to speak up after claims from Danny Care that Eddie Jones's regime was like \"living in a dictatorship\".
Kühn doubles up to spark Celtic triumph
Brendan Rodgers used pre-match media duties to call for Celtic's supporters to refrain from using pyrotechnics during the visit of RB Leipzig.
Gyökeres piles on pain for City and raises the Amorim expectation
When does a blip become a slump? Pre-game, Pep Guardiola was asked this and pointed to Manchester City's supreme run of success.
Diaz treble dashes Alonso's hopes on return to Anfield
The finest compliment to Xabi Alonso, Arne Slot wrote in his programme notes, \"is to be the best Liverpool that we can possibly be with no quarter asked and no quarter given.\"
Emery sets Villa top-eight Champions League target
Unai Emery has challenged his Aston Villa players to cement their surprise status as favourites to automatically qualify for the Champions League last 16.
Joorabchian connection key to Edu's Arsenal exit
Director's decision to join Marinakis setup has raised eyebrows but the dynamic had changed at the Emirates
Care's belated whistleblowing reveals toxicity of the silence that underpinned Jones regime
According to Care, Jones's players felt 'like characters in a dystopian novel'
United fans prefer new stadium over redevelopment
A majority of Manchester United fans favour a new stadium rather than the redevelopment of Old Trafford, a survey has found.
England must finish strong with new bench
Need to improve in later stages of tight games puts focus on Borthwick and his use of replacements
