Pep Guardiola aims swipe at Man Utd after humbling defeat to Ruben Amorim

Man City fell to a 4-1 defeat in Lisbon on Tuesday (Picture: UEFA via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola aimed a swipe at Manchester United following his side’s defeat Sporting Lisbon – reminding Manchester City’s arch-rivals of their absence from the Champions League this season.

City suffered their third defeat on the bounce as they were swept aside by Sporting in the Portuguese capital – with the 4-1 victory masterminded by United’s incoming manager Ruben Amorim.

The 39-year-old took charge of his final home game before he officially takes the reins at Old Trafford on 11 November, with Sporting’s sensational victory over the Premier League champions sparking plenty of excitement amongst United supporters awaiting his arrival in Manchester.

Amorim is regarded as one of the best young coaches in Europe with Tuesday providing more evidence United may have finally picked the right man to lead them back to the top.

But there is plenty of work to do with United languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, having won just three of their 10 league games this season.  

Amorim and Guardiola will be reunited again on 15 December for the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad with the reverse fixture currently slated for 25 April.

The Manchester rivals have also met in the FA Cup final the last two seasons running, each claiming a victory.

It was a perfect send-off for Amorim in Lisbon (Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

But speaking after defeat in Lisbon, Guardiola was quick to remind United there will be no meeting between the two managers in Europe this season.

‘We will face them two times in the Premier League and maybe the FA Cup. In the Champions League it is not possible,’ Guardiola told a press conference.

‘Then we will see. I learn from all managers I face. Ruben I think as well. But my concern is on getting us back to our best which we will try to do.’

United limped to a woeful eight place finish last season, a position which would have seen them miss out on Europe altogether this term.

But their FA Cup win over City secured them a place in the Europa League, with Ruud van Nistelrooy managing the side for their fourth game of that campaign on Thursday night against PAOK.

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