Ruben Amorim has opened up about his dynamic with a key figure at the Etihad ahead of the Manchester City and Manchester United clash in the Premier League.
The 40-year-old Manchester United manager will travel to the Etihad with his men on Sunday for their first match since the end of the September international break.
Ruben Amorim now faces a real challenge in United’s two upcoming Premier League fixtures, with the Red Devils facing Manchester City before hosting Chelsea at home.
United are one point ahead of City in the Premier League table, with Pep Guardiola’s men losing back-to-back Premier League matches before the September break.
City have won only once in the Premier League in their opening three matches, which came on the opening weekend of the season against Wolves in August.
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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaks during a press conference at the Carrington training complex in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim asked about his relationship with Hugo Viana ahead of Man Utd’s Premier League match with Man City
The Red Devils picked up their first win of the 2025-26 season under Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim ahead of the September international break.
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Amorim watched the Red Devils secure all three points at Old Trafford after United sealed a 3-2 victory over Burnley in August thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ late penalty.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, the 40-year-old Portuguese coach was asked if he had spoken to City director of football Hugo Viana.
“We have different jobs, we have different clubs,” Amorim said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“We don’t talk about football, I am red, he is blue, but we are really close friends, that will not change.”
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Who is Hugo Viana and what is Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim’s relationship with the key Man City figure?
Hugo Viana was brought to the Etihad in 2025 and the 42-year-old Portuguese ex-player was appointed to the role of director of football at the Premier League club.
City confirmed in 2024 that Txiki Begiristain would leave his role as director of football at the end of the 2024-25 campaign and Viana succeeded him.
Viana arrived in England after leaving his role as sporting director at Sporting CP, with the City figure sharing a close relationship with United manager Amorim.
He returned to Sporting in 2018 to take up the aforementioned role at the Portuguese club ahead of Amorim’s arrival at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2020.
However, both Amorim and Viana’s relationship extends well beyond their time together at Sporting, with the duo also being former teammates at Braga.