Ruben Amorim is confident Manchester United are a better team now than they were nine months ago when they beat rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Portuguese manager hasn’t had much to shout about during his 11-month stint at Old Trafford—with one positive result often followed up a disastrous display in the next game—and there’s been significant upheaval in a bid to turn things around for the former 13-time Premier League winners.
Amorim has been backed heavily in the transfer market, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, and faces the ultimate challenge of his credentials on Sunday when he pits his wits against Pep Guardiola and City.
Last season, Amorim sensationally came out on top at the Etihad Stadium—Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo supplying the dramatic late goals to earn a 2–1 win. That, however, is one of only eight wins in 30 Premier League outings for Amorim.
There’s cautious optimism that United can repeat the trick against a City side who are also in transition. Guardiola spent £150 million on new faces this summer in a bid to reinvigorate a side who meekly surrendered their Premier League crown last season, and they’ve made a disappointing start to the new campaign too—defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion not what Guardiola would have expected three games in.
