Ruben Amorim reveals holding dinner dates “all the time” with Manchester City chief | OneFootball

Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim has detailed a strong friendship with Manchester City’s Hugo Viana, but reveals the pair keep their footballing allegiances to one side.

The build-up to the Manchester derby has already been dominated by stories surrounding both camps, with Erling Haaland calling for his teammates to “get their a**es going” after a slow start to the season, and Pep Guardiola offering clarity on Omar Marmoush’s injury timeframe.

Now, Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim has brought his own perspective, not only on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but also on his personal relationship with one of the Etihad Stadium’s most influential figures.

Hugo Viana, who arrived as Manchester City’s sporting director in the summer for a busy transfer window, has worked closely alongside Pep Guardiola to reshape parts of the squad and prepare for the future.

While Amorim insists their friendship runs deep following their time at Sporting CP, he was quick to point out that the bond is personal rather than professional when it comes to the rivalry between Manchester’s two clubs.

The Portuguese coach has often spoken about his admiration for Pep Guardiola’s tactical work, and in his latest comments he made clear that Manchester City’s unpredictability under the Catalan remains one of their greatest weapons.

His side may be ahead in the Premier League table heading into the derby, but Amorim underlined his belief that results will ultimately depend on execution of principles rather than statistics.

Speaking during his own pre-match press conference, Ruben Amorim was asked for his assessment on Manchester City at this present moment, as his side come into the game ahead of the sky blues in the Premier League table.

“It’s the same thing; it’s a top team with the best, for me, coach [Pep Guardiola] in the league, a team that is really hard to imagine how they are going to play, they change all the time,” said the Portuguese coach.

Amorim continued, “But we are prepared for that and we believe in our team. And I have that feeling. So it will be a very good game, we know what to do, we have one more training. The table at the moment, it doesn’t matter.

“I just worry about maintaining the same principles, the way we fight for every ball. These small details, that sometimes we drop a little bit, not in these games, so I’m more comfortable in these kind of games. But we will be ready against a very, very good team.”

Further quizzed on his close relationship with Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana, Ruben Amorim said, “No, it has no influence. We have different jobs, we have different clubs.

“We’re having dinner all the time, we don’t talk about football. So, I’m red, he’s blue. But we are really, really close friends. That will not change. So, I hope to win on Sunday, and that’s it.”

With Amorim keen to separate friendship from rivalry, the upcoming clash carries even greater intrigue. The Portuguese tactician’s words about being “more comfortable in these kind of games” suggest he views the derby as an opportunity for his team to prove their resilience.

For City, questions remain over how they will adapt without Marmoush, and whether Haaland’s rallying cry can spark a response. For United, Amorim’s confidence and camaraderie with one of City’s top decision-makers will do little to soften his competitive edge.

If anything, the off-pitch friendship between Ruben Amorim and Hugo Viana only adds another layer to the rivalry. Sunday’s derby is not only a test of tactics and talent but also a battle of resolve, where personal bonds will be set aside in pursuit of bragging rights.