The longevity meant full circle was bound to arrive at some point and Pep Guardiola now stands just as he did when touching down in Manchester: facing up against the pre-eminent Portuguese coach of a generation.
And this one might actually outlast him. It would take something spectacular for Ruben Amorim not to manage that but then this is Manchester United, when even the surest bets quickly escalate into blind chucks at black or red.
Guardiola has seen off three permanent United managers in his time at Manchester City. After Jose Mourinho, there was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Erik ten Hag. Throw in Ralf Rangnick for good measure, too.
Mourinho’s bite and snarl slithered under Guardiola’s skin as they jousted in Spain yet an uneasy truce in England meant the sideshow was, largely, quashed. And when it comes down to pure football, there is only ever one winner.
That Mourinho only remained at Old Trafford for two years is something of a shame, because the awkward tension would have eventually snapped, and while Solskjaer delivered a blow or two to City, they often came too late to fundamentally matter.
Pep Guardiola has already seen off three permanent Man United managers during his time at Man City
Despite their rivalry in Spain, a lack of competitiveness on the pitch saw him comfortably see off former United boss Jose Mourinho
But the arrival of Ruben Amorim promises to inject new life into a United side that so desperately needs it
But Amorim is seen as the proper coach to mount a challenge and is close to City’s next director of football Hugo Viana in a way that will spark intrigue surrounding the relationships between the two clubs. City’s Bernardo Silva was complimentary about the impact Amorim has had in Lisbon, on Monday night describing Sporting as a ‘big machine right now’.
Tuesday’s Champions League meeting might not offer insight into who has whose number, although how Amorim responds to any result – positive or negative – could set the tone for what will follow over the coming months. After all, the managers come up against each other again in little over a month’s time at the Etihad Stadium.
‘Pep is the best coach in the world,’ Amorim said. ‘I know it’s tough for United fans, and I think City are the best team in the world.
‘Every player is world class, it is always very difficult to predict what is going to happen. We have to be brave. I am a better coach than I was before. I think Pep is an even better coach. Today I have better players.’
Amorim was looking back on City’s last trip here to the Portuguese capital two and a half years ago, pummelling their hosts 5-0 – ex-Benfica midfielder Silva particularly enjoying his brace, goading the home crowd – and leaving with Guardiola calling Sporting’s Matheus Nunes – now at City – one of the best players in the world.
Plenty in Lisbon thought City would pinch their manager as well as their sporting director Viana who has been appointed Txiki Begiristain’s successor at the Etihad.
Viana is banned from entering Sporting’s dressing room on Tuesday, one imposed by Amorim before he accepted the job at Old Trafford. Silva laughed that he couldn’t possibly wish Amorim well and is looking to settle scores with his mother and closest friends – all Sporting supporters – when he goes back to the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
‘With a full squad we’re always stronger,’ Silva said. ‘There is no denying that. We have unbelievable players missing. But also I don’t like to find excuses. This club was never about that. Kevin (De Bruyne) was injured for six or seven months and we won the league. We always managed. Perform well individually and do your work. There are no excuses.’
Bernardo was full of praise for his compatriot as he prepares to take charge of Sporting Lisbon for a final time at the Estadio Jose Alvalade
City will still be without a number of key players however following an injury-blighted start to the campaign
What Silva references there is the troubling few weeks the Premier League champions have been dealing with. The injury issues have run deeper enough for Guardiola to request some play through the pain, a key message sent to more senior members of his squad before the surprising Premier League defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.
Only three players – John Stones, Ruben Dias and Jack Grealish – have been left at home through injury but plenty more are on the wrong side of fully fit. De Bruyne went for just the one gentle jog down the touchline at the weekend; Kyle Walker came in to start from nowhere and it was plainly evident that he hadn’t been around for a month.
Irrespective, Guardiola came out swinging at what he perceives as unjust criticism of performances. ‘I know our standards, right?’ he said. ‘I know our standards. We lost one game in the Premier League.’
