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.
This story is from the November 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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