Following Amorim’s move to Manchester United, Sporting appointed Joao Pereira as his replacement. Pereira had a dream debut, leading Sporting to a 6-0 victory over Amarante in the Portuguese Cup. However, reality soon set in. Sporting Lisbon, under Pereira, suffered four consecutive losses across all competitions, plunging the team into crisis.
The club eventually sacked Joao Pereira due to these poor results. Under his guidance, Sporting won only three of the eight games he oversaw, drawing one and losing four. After a goalless draw against Gil Vicente in the 15th round of the Primeira Liga, Sporting lost their top spot to arch-rivals Benfica, who overtook them with 38 points compared to Sporting’s 37 after defeating Estoril 3-0. This contrasted sharply with Sporting’s dominance under Amorim, who had led them to 12 consecutive victories and an unchallenged lead in the standings. Seeking to reverse their fortunes, Sporting’s management sacked Pereira, and the team immediately rebounded. In their final match of 2024, Sporting reclaimed the top spot in the league with a 1-0 victory over Benfica at the José Alvalade Stadium.
Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim initially showed promise at Manchester United, winning two and drawing one of his first three matches in charge. These results offer hope to United fans, but this optimism was short-lived. Over the next six matches, United won just two games and lost four. At the same time that Sporting sacked Pereira for four consecutive losses, United also suffered four defeats under Amorim—mirroring his former club’s struggles after his departure.
In their final games of 2024, United suffered back-to-back 2-0 defeats against Wolves and Newcastle, the latter at Old Trafford. These results left Manchester United in 14th place in the Premier League—a shocking position for a club with such a storied history.
While Sporting’s decision to “change generals” appeared to pay off with a return to the top of the Primeira Liga, Manchester United’s faith in Amorim is wearing thin. The Sporting fans, thrilled to see their team recover, remain cautious after just one victory. They remember that Joao Pereira’s tenure also began with an emphatic win before the downturn. At United, the mood is far grimmer. Ending the year in the bottom half of the Premier League table is unacceptable for the club’s supporters, and patience with Amorim is running out. While the United ownership may still back him, fans are calling for a change.
In this context, a possible solution arises: perhaps Manchester United should “pave the way” for Amorim to return to Sporting Lisbon. Reuniting with his former club might allow him to lead them back to glory, as he once did, with impressive victories such as the famous win over Manchester City. Returning to his “old home” could resolve the mutual struggles of both “the former teacher and his struggling students.”
So, time to back “home” it is, Amorim!
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