Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim could emulate Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel when the Red Devils take on Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League derby.
Old Trafford is the venue for this weekend's Premier League main event, where Man United will be aiming to spoil Kevin De Bruyne's Citizens party.
The blockbuster battle comes just 48 hours after the Belgian playmaker announced he would be leaving the Premier League champions at the end of his contract this summer, making Sunday's game his final Manchester derby.
However, recent history suggests that De Bruyne might be left disappointed at the full time whistle, as Amorim has already got one over Man City twice with two different clubs in the 2024-25 season.
The Portuguese masterminded a smash-and-grab 2-1 win at the Etihad back in December, prior to which he led Sporting Lisbon to a remarkable 4-1 victory in the Champions League back in November.
Amorim aiming for third successive win over Man City
© Imago
Should Man United come up trumps on Sunday afternoon, Amorim will become just the third manager to win three games in a row against Pep Guardiola across all competitions.
The Man City head coach has only ever suffered three straight losses as a manager to Klopp and Tuchel, the former doing so twice with Liverpool and Tuchel pulling off the feat with Chelsea in the 2020-21 season.
However, Man United enter the derby on the back of a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in midweek, while Man City eased to a 2-0 success over Leicester City, leaving the champions eight places and 14 points better off in the Premier League table.
As a result, Amorim has insisted that his side's issues are far greater than the ones faced by Man City, in spite of the Citizens' unforeseen capitulation this season, telling the media on Friday: "I think we have bigger problems than Manchester City. It's really hard to understand how and to think how they are going to face us.
"They have maybe the best coach in the world and they have top players, so it will be a difficult match but like I said I'm so focused on improving my team that I'm not worried about the improvements of Manchester City. Just try to understand how Manchester City is going to play so I can help my players be on top of their game."
Man United will be condemned to worst Premier League season with draw or defeat
© Imago
While Amorim could join Tuchel and Klopp in that exclusive club with a win on Sunday, any other result will condemn Man United to their worst-ever season points-wise in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have collected just 37 points from 30 matches in the 2024-25 campaign, meaning that they can only achieve a maximum of 61 by winning their final eight fixtures.
However, a draw on Sunday will leave Man United capable of collecting only 59, and their maximum will be just 58 should they lose, both of which would represent an unwanted club record.
The Red Devils' lowest-ever points total in a Premier League season is 60, set under Erik ten Hag last season, and they are also just one defeat away from equalling the 14 Premier League losses they suffered in 2023-24, another club worst.
Ben Knapton
