“I spoke with…” Pep Guardiola issues Rúben Amorim verdict ahead of Man United appointment

Pep Guardiola has issued his verdict on Rúben Amorim ahead of the Portuguese’s appointment as Manchester United’s new head coach.

Manchester United are gearing up to appoint Ruben Amorim as their next Head Coach after making the decision to dismiss Erik ten Hag.

The Dutch manager’s time at United came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League, where a debated penalty decision allowed Jarrad Bowen to secure the win.

Read More: Mainoo, Collyer, Yoro – What will Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side look like?

United confirmed Ten Hag’s exit on Monday morning, and by that evening, news circulated that Sporting CP’s Amorim had emerged as the leading candidate, with an agreement already in place.

While United prepare for upcoming clashes against Leicester City and Chelsea, Ruud van Nistelrooy will temporarily take charge of the squad.

Pep’s verdict on Amorim

Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked about the appointment, to which he gave a glowing review of United’s pending head coach.

The pair have faced each other twice, in the 2021/22 Champions League round of 16, where a 5-0 win for City in Portugal came before a 0-0 draw at the Etihad in the return leg.

“Only I can talk is about the experience I played twice against Ruben’s Sporting Lisbon team one or two seasons ago, and the impression was really, really good,” the Spaniard explained.

“I spoke with Matheus Nunes that was his player and he spoke highly about him. And look at this season, he’s unbeaten winning all of the games in the Portuguese league and the Champions League the same points with us. So a highly manager, so I have the feeling that if Man United, what I hear, is thinking about him it’s because he’s a good manager.

“So Man United don’t appoint managers that don’t meet that level. All the managers they’ve had in the last five, six, seven years we cannot say they are not able to lead Man United. What’s going to happen, I don’t know, and what happened in my experience here doesn’t mean it works for the other ones.

“Everyone is everyone because managers are the team, the club, the structure, the physios, the doctors, the players – it’s many things! And what happened here doesn’t mean it’s going to happen in another place.”

Is the move too soon?

Amorim is 39 years old, making him Manchester United’s youngest-ever manager/head coach once he takes charge of the Old Trafford side in what is hopefully the coming days.

Asked on whether his move to United may be too soon in his career, Gaurdiola questioned this notion, explaining that he himself had an early start to his managerial career at Barcelona.

“Why so quick? What is the problem? I started in Barcelona at 37 years-old coming from the fourth division, so knowledge is knowledge. If you are able, it doesn’t matter.

“For that reason, Lamine Yamal could not play football at 17 years-old, right? So he has to wait till 24. And there are people who are 56 or 57 that are not able to be a manager. What is important is the talent, if you are good. It doesn’t matter the age. Right?”

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