Sporting boss Ruben Amorim stokes up Guardiola rivalry with Mourinho comment

Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has praised Jose Mourinho ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.

Amorim will share a touchline with Guardiola when the pair meet in the last-16 of the Champions League.

City travel to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for the first leg before welcoming the Portuguese champions to the Etihad Stadium three weeks later.

It’s the first time since 2008/09 Sporting have made it this far, after finishing as runners-up in their group.

Coming second behind Ajax, Sporting progressed ahead of European giants Besiktas and Borussia Dortmund.

Originally handed a tie against Juventus, Sporting were one of the few losers from the redone draw.

Read: The biggest winners and losers from the redone Champions League draw

Sporting head into the last-16 clash as rank outsiders, with City tipped to breeze past the side from Lisbon.

However, Sporting have proved their worth under Amorim, securing the Portuguese title last season.

Finishing five points clear of rivals Porto, Sporting lost only one match in the league last time out.

Whilst their form has dropped off this season, the Lions remain hopeful of back-to-back league titles.

Six points behind leaders Porto, the pair played out a dramatic 2-2 draw earlier this month, with a whopping five players sent off during the ferocious affair.

A reflection of Amorim himself, Sporting are a hard-to-beat unit that will be looking to push City all the way.

Ruben Amorim hoping to crush City’s Champions League dream

For the Blues, they still have unfinished business with the Champions League.

After losing to Chelsea in last season’s final, City romped through as group winners, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the process.

Villarreal were City’s original opponents from the botched draw, but Guardiola will be confident of progressing past Sporting.

Whilst they may enter the clash as Premier League leaders, City are still yet to win a Champions League title.

Should Guardiola deliver City’s maiden Champions League, he will further his legacy as one of the greatest managers of all time.

However, for current Sporting boss Amorim, Guardiola’s arch-nemesis Mourinho remains his biggest managerial inspiration.

Quizzed on where he ranks the two greats of the game, Amorim was stern in his answer:

“My reference has always been Mourinho,” explained the Sporting boss.

Amorim has often been compared to Mourinho, with the Portuguese pair sharing many similarities.

Whilst Amorim enjoyed more success as a player, both took up management at a relatively young age.

Mourinho started at Benfica aged 37, whilst Amorim took the reigns at second-tier side Casa Pia aged only 32.

Now aged 37 himself, Amorim will be hoping to emulate his idol by becoming the first Portuguese side since Mourinho’s Porto in 2003/04 to win the Champions League.

Regardless of what Amorim achieves in the Champions League with Sporting, his stock is already rising by the week.

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on the Sporting boss, with another Guardiola rendezvous potentially around the corner for Amorim.

Verified by MonsterInsights