Manchester United hopes to do a sensational competition about bitter rivals Manchester City for the Manchester Derby on Sunday – which would be the third time in a row, he defeated Pep Guardiola this season
Ruben Amorim has admitted that he needs more than happiness if he starts beating Pep Guardiola for the third time. The Manchester United boss has twice prevailed against Guardiola this season and first led Sporting Lisbon to a spectacular 4-1 Champions League victory on the Catalan's Manchester City side in November.
He then turned out a 2-1 derby victory for the Reds in the house of the champions the following month, when both goals arrived in the last three minutes.
But Amorim admitted that the most important ingredient in both victories was that he enjoyed all breaks. And he accepts that if United starts to complete the double over their bitter rivals at Old Trafford, he will have to find another way to beat the opportunities.
Asked what his secret is for beating Guardiola, Amorim said: “Happiness! The first game was lucky. In the first half it could have been 4-0 for them and we won 4-1.
“The second game – I think I preferred the second game when we won in the last seconds. I think they have checked the possession a little more, but we were fighting Manchester City there. But if I have to tell you one thing, it might be lucky.”
Amorim added: “Of course we now need more than happiness – because the opportunities are falling! But we are prepared for the game and we improve in some aspects of our game. Sometimes the results are not there, but we are improving – and I can see that. So let's continue with that idea. We know that we have to adjust the way we play and we work on Sunday.”
United was 1-0 in the back of the Etihad with two minutes left, just to leave the city astonished with a Bruno Fernandes penalty and a smart winner of Amad Diallo.
Amorim will be stimulated from a fitness point for the game, with Mason Mount now back in the fight after his first minutes since December in the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. He also revealed that Kobbie Mainoo could return to his matchday team after he had been excluded with a muscle problem since February.
Defender Matthijs de Ligt, however, has picked up a “problem” after a knock against Bos and Amorim said he would be touch and the derby's collision would be ahead.
“I think Kobbie returns to training, so we will already see and judge this game,” said our head coach. “Of course he can't play a full game, he's long without training. I think Matta [de Ligt] has a problem. He has something during the game [at Forest] And we have to assess. I think the rest is normal. “
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