Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has warned his players to expect a fierce response from Manchester City as they seek to end their slump in Sunday’s derby.
City have won just once in their last ten games and arrive at Sunday’s game under immense pressure, which could rise to unfathomable heights if they fall to United on home soil.
Despite City’s miserable form, Amorim is under no illusion as to the task at hand and warned his players not to expect anything less than the best from Pep Guardiola’s struggling side.
“The great teams can respond at any moment,” he said. “And I think they are in a better place than us in the type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have.
“Even in these kind of moments, we have a lot to focus on our team. So our focus is total of course, we will have a strategy: try to win the game with the strategy like it should be. But we are focused just on our team.”
“We will face a great opponent and I’m more focused on our problems. So we have a lot of issues here, so I’m more focused on what we should do on Sunday to win the game. So I’m really focused on my team.”
Amorim went on to admit his disappointment towards the nature of his first Manchester derby, insisting the battle between the city’s biggest sides should revolve around the Premier League title and not the quest to keep up with their rivals.
“I just want to improve the team so I cannot live it like a normal derby, like it should be – two great teams fighting for the title,” the United head coach said. “It’s not that in this moment. So it’s just one more game with a very good opponent.
“Both teams are struggling in the moment, so I hope, in the future, I feel that real feeling of a derby. But I know that it’s really important for our fans. But my goal now is to improve the team, win games and I will try to win this game.”
Amorim’s cause may not have been helped by alleged leaks of his entire starting lineup for the game on social media.
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