Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said he never spoke to rival Manchester City about becoming a replacement for Pep Guardiola before his first derby with the team.
The 39-year-old left Sporting to replace Erik ten Hag in late October, when he was linked with City amid uncertainty over Guardiola's future.
The fact that sporting director Hugo Viana takes on the role at the Etihad Stadium next summer has added an extra dimension, but Amorim insists the Old Trafford job was his only ambition.
Asked if he had had a conversation about possibly joining City at any time, Amorim said: “Never. I never did and it was my only option.
He added: “When Manchester United spoke to me, I had no doubts because I already had something in mind (that it could be possible).”
“With Manchester City or Hugo Viana? Nothing about that.”
ℹ️ Robben shares the latest team news ahead of the Manchester derby 👇#MUFC || #PL
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Guardiola ended speculation over his future shortly after Amorim's arrival at Manchester, with the City boss signing an extension until 2027.
But City have won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions, and seven of those matches ended in defeat.
One of those losses was masterminded by Amorim, whose Sporting side recorded a stunning 4-1 win in the Champions League while he waited to take the reins at United.
“I never thought about these things,” Amorim said. “We will face a great opponent and I am more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of problems here.
“I'm more focused on what we have to do on Sunday to win the game, so I'm really focused on my team.”
Asked if United were facing a different, weaker City, he said: “No, no, no, no.
“Big teams can react at any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in terms of understanding the game, the way they play, and the confidence they have. Even in moments like this.
“We have a lot to focus on in our team. Of course we have a strategy to try to win the game the way it should be, but we are only focused on our team.
“We will help Onana”
Andre Onana will never want to see that again 🫣
A gift from United goalkeeper and old Reading boy Matej Vydra pounces and puts Plzen ahead 😱
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been wobbly in recent matches and missed the opening goal during Thursday night's Europa League win over Viktoria Plzeň.
Onana's poor pass was cut out and led to Matej Vydra's goal for Plzeň, before substitute Rasmus Hoglund scored United's brace to seal a 2-1 win.
“You have to take it as it comes,” Amorim said of his goalkeeper's performance. “He has already faced a situation like this in the past, so we have to work on this.
“If you watch the play, we are trying to build a lot by having the goalkeeper cross (pass) with Mata (De Ligt) more often.
“We were able to help Onana as he had done for us in the past.”
