Ruben Amorim joked he will be viewed as the “next Alex Ferguson” if he leads Sporting to victory over Manchester City.
The 39-year-old has been confirmed as Manchester United’s next permanent manager and will take charge at Old Trafford from November 11, meaning this is his final week in Portugal.
Amorim has two more matches in the Sporting dugout, at home to Man City in the Champions League on Tuesday night and then a farewell trip to face Braga on Sunday.
Sporting have won all ten of their league games so far this season and are unbeaten in Europe too, sitting eighth in the Champions League table with seven points from their first three matches.
Taking on Pep Guardiola’s side will be their toughest test to date, but Amorim insisted he is not looking to make an extra statement by beating United’s Manchester rivals.
“Tomorrow I will be Sporting's coach and only Sporting's,” Amorim said.
“From the 11th I will be United's. I know they will draw conclusions from the result, but I don't care. I understand the interest, for me it's just another game against a team from the best league.
“If the Man City result is negative, expectations will drop. If we win they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived! What interests me is to win, a good farewell in Alvalade, win in Braga and start a new adventure in Manchester.”
The Sporting boss was asked several questions by the English media and it was requested that he gave an answer in English, but Amorim insisted he would only speak in Portuguese until he officially moves to United.
Amorim is fluent in English but was quizzed on whether he expects to have any communication problems at his new club in getting his ideas across to the United squad.
Amorim said: “My communication at the beginning will be simpler because it is in English. I think I will have to spend three months, they say that is enough. The players will not be offended if I say that they are more basic, I give training sessions here in English.
"It will be a different adaptation, but my life will be the same, there is a way of playing, an idea. But communication will be more basic.”
