Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made an eyebrow-raising observation about Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres under Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
Pep Guardiola witnessed first-hand the lethal threat of Viktor Gyokeres when Manchester City faced Sporting CP in the Champions League last season.
Ruben Amorim was in charge of Sporting ahead of the Manchester United manager’s exit from the Estadio Jose Alvalade and his arrival at Old Trafford last November.
Sporting came from 1-0 down in the Champions League tie and completed a sensational 4-1 thumping of United’s crosstown rivals at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Gyokeres has been heavily linked with United and the 27-year-old Swedish striker inspired Sporting’s comeback win against Guardiola’s men in November 2024.
The Sporting striker scored a sensational hat-trick in the Champions League match under Amorim, with the Portuguese side walking away with all three points.
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Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP gesture with one another during the UEFA Europa League 2023-24 round-of-16 first-leg match between Sporting CP and Atalanta at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 6, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Photo by Joao Rico/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
What Pep Guardiola noticed about Viktor Gyokeres ahead of Man City’s loss to Sporting CP spoke volumes about Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim became Manchester United manager during the 2024-25 season after ex-Red Devils and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Premier League club.
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Erik ten Hag had overseen a poor start to the Premier League campaign and Amorim faced an uphill task in steering the ship for the second half of last season.
Speaking ahead of the 4-1 Champions League defeat, Pep Guardiola noticed a desirable quality that Viktor Gyokeres had for ex-Sporting CP manager Amorim.
Guardiola was asked if he would sign Gyokeres, but he admitted that Manchester City already had the “best striker in the world” with Erling Haaland.
However, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager called Gyokeres “very important” for Sporting and singled out the “patterns” that he could see with him.
“Gyokeres is a very important player for them, but he has been with Amorim for a long time, you can see the patterns, the joy,” Guardiola said in 2024, as per Maisfutebol.
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Pep Guardiola’s assessment of Viktor Gyokeres is everything Man Utd players need to know about Ruben Amorim
Guardiola made a clear-cut point about Gyokeres being under Amorim’s wing for a “long time” and how he was able to see the “patterns” with his playing style.
It is something that the United first-team players experienced and they were far from familiar with it due to the minimal time that they have had under Amorim.
Amorim rolled out his tactical system for United from the minute he walked through the doors at Old Trafford and players had to quickly adapt to the new playing style.
The former Sporting head coach made it clear that this would be the system that United would play under him and he has been ready to die on a hill with his stance.
A potential Gyokeres reunion with Amorim at Old Trafford is hardly surprising, considering how the Sweden forward has become one of the most in-form strikers in the world.
Guardiola’s verdict on Gyokeres even before his devastating hat-trick against City should be an important reminder – or warning – for every United player right now.
United players need to stick with Amorim for the long haul and be able to adapt to his “patterns” of play or they will be heading for the door at Old Trafford.