Pep Guardiola reacts to Ruben Amorim sacking from Manchester United

On Monday, January 5, news broke of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal as Manchester United manager after recording poor figures during his tenure. He posted a 47% win rate, one of the lowest in the modern era for the Red Devils. Following this news, which perhaps did not surprise the English football landscape, one of the key figures to speak out was Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager and United’s arch-rival expressed that he was not surprised by the 40-year-old Portuguese coach's departure, arguing that in the Premier League, you must always deliver results in the present, regardless of your past achievements.

"As happened with Enzo (Maresca, dismissed from Chelsea earlier this month), I cannot say anything out of respect for the players and the institutions. Like Enzo, he (Amorim) is a top-level manager. The decision was made by our neighbors. I wish Ruben all the best in the future," he stated.

"I don’t think there is a country where you are safe if you don’t win matches. Normally, if you don’t get results, neither the past nor the present matters. You are hired for a perspective of your ideas, and you are fired for results," Guardiola said during the press conference.

The Spaniard, who is nearing 10 years in charge of Manchester City, was aware that Manchester United has suffered in recent Premier League matches, considering the squad has several absences due to injuries and players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This was a situation Amorim could not reverse, and therefore, the board ultimately opted for his departure. In light of this, Guardiola recognized that the Portuguese manager faced a disadvantage in recent months, making his dismissal evident.

"The gaps are very small, and we see now that United has had many absences, similar to what we have right now, and it is difficult with players at the Africa Cup of Nations and important players being unavailable," he added.

Guardiola vs. Amorim: Head-to-Head in the Premier League

During the 14 months Amorim was in charge of Manchester United, he faced Pep Guardiola three times, recording one win, one draw, and one defeat—a 33% success rate for the Portuguese against the Spaniard, whom he had previously defeated while managing Sporting Lisbon in a past edition of the UEFA Champions League.

Now, both Manchester City and Pep Guardiola look ahead to a new Premier League matchday this Wednesday, January 7, when they host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. They are in dire need of all three points as they currently sit second in the standings with 42 points, eight behind leaders Arsenal (who face Liverpool at home), with the goal of securing a victory to keep the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side in the title race.