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Ruben Amorim has faced a variety of clubs in his first six games as Manchester United head coach, from Arsenal in the Premier League to Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
Those six games have produced positive, negative and mixed results, but Sunday’s opponents, Manchester City, will pose a different challenge.
Pep Guardiola’s side go into the match at the Etihad looking a shadow of their dominant selves, winners of the past four Premier League titles, but derby days are different, even if Amorim plays down their significance.
“I just want to improve the team so I can’t treat it like a normal derby,” he said on Thursday evening.
“It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and that’s not the case at the moment. So it’s just another match with a very good opponent. Both teams are struggling at the moment, so I hope I can get that real feeling of a derby in the future (which has implications for the title).
While that’s certainly true of the form and prospects of the two teams, it’s still a game that means just a little more.
To give United’s new head coach a taste of what to expect: The Athletics spoke to three United legends about what it’s like to play against City. From vomit to respect to moments they’ll cherish, here’s what they had to say.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: ‘Beating Guardiola is a moment to cherish’
Solskjaer made more than 350 appearances for United between 1996 and 2007 before becoming manager between 2018 and 2021.
Here he talks about losing at City’s former ground Main Road, scoring against his former United teammate Peter Schmeichel and then winning three away derbies in a row as United manager.
‘It’s not hostile with them, not really. But it’s a real rivalry. Sometimes it’s easier with them when you’re not at home. At Old Trafford you have more responsibility to open up and try to dominate.
“It’s unusual to be the underdog at United because that certainly wasn’t the case when I played… although we did lose 3-1 at Maine Road (City’s previous ground). I scored against Peter Schmeichel that day (main image above) but I didn’t enjoy that and Gary Neville didn’t have his best games. Sir Alex then handed it out, he was furious.
GO DEEPER
The ‘Manc’ back in the Manchester derby
“But we were underdogs when I was manager. I looked at our three straight wins there. We had an average of 35 percent possession, but still beat them three times. We did that with breadth and pace. Anto (Anthony Martial) was brilliant in those games. He had a lot of grip, but in those games he stepped in to create spaces, making it harder for City to defend. He and Bruno Fernandes were very important in possession.
Martiaal after scoring against City in 2019 (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
‘They hit you at first. Good ball possession, width. You expect an attack, but in the 2021 match we started well, scored and surprised. We’ve set up a team to stop them.
“City have dominated so many games against United, so you try to do what you can so that the fans can hold their heads up high at work the next day. What I did – and what Erik ten Hag did in the FA Cup final 2024 – was setting up a team to hurt them when they are out of balance.
“Guardiola was always respectful and I have a huge amount of respect for him, he is an incredible manager. But when a manager beats him it is a moment to cherish. And we did it three times on the bounce. We had every weekend at City must play!
Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola on the sidelines (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“I’m kidding, but the wins felt good. City and Liverpool are the two games for United fans, and the worst if you lose. So I told my players to go out afterwards and enjoy it. They weren’t the type to go out near Manchester, perhaps they went to quieter areas. I didn’t go out after the games to celebrate, I had work to do.
“At the end of the game in 2019 I was looking at the away end. 3,000 hardcore fans. My children were in there. They saw beer being thrown at the United section – at least it was the same color as beer. The fans sang ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ at the end. ‘Tell me how good does it feel?’. Let me tell you, it feels absolutely amazing. It’s not a trophy, but it’s the days you play for and take care of.”
Andy Cole: ‘We’re back to those old days’
Cole played almost 300 games for United between 1994 and 2002 before later joining City for the 2005–06 season.
Here he discusses the importance of the derby to fans, how he was treated when he moved to City and why Amorim just had to enjoy the day.
“City away with United. I love it. Almost always enjoyable, just like the build-up. But I’m talking about when City was on Maine Road. Our team coach visited all those terraced houses in Moss Side, an environment that gets the juices flowing. Some of their fans would turn on the V’s and you’re like, ‘This is what it’s about.’ If you can’t prepare yourself for these games, you’re going to struggle.
“If you ask me what my highlights were, I’ll give you a one-word answer: winning. I scored one at Maine Road, but derbies are all about the result, whatever the match. Win and all is well. Losing and that’s not it.
“But I also played for City against United in a derby. And won. Maybe some City fans were a little dubious when I joined them because I was at United and have never hidden my loyalty to this day. But I gave 100 percent in every game I played for City. I was professional, I had bills to pay.
“I played a famous match in 2006 when we won 3-1. No scoring, everything done well. Patrice Evra made his debut and Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. I played with Darius Vassell, Stephen Ireland and Trevor Sinclair. Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin were decent with Sun Jihai on defense. Technically a top player, Sun. David James in net. You get a good goalkeeper at Jamo.
Cole playing against United for City in 2006 (Paul Barker/AFP via Getty Images)
“The United fans were great to me even though I was at City. I’m just a lucky guy. I didn’t know what to expect and some of the other lads who played for both clubs did get a stick, but it’s all about how you behave yourself. And I behaved well, with respect.
“If I were to speak to Ruben Amorim before this match I would say: ‘Enjoy it, it’s a great occasion. And an even bigger day if you win’. You’re involved in the Manchester derby, it’s a privilege. The sad thing this season is that you have two teams that are not in the best shape. So we’re back to those old days where you have no idea what’s going to happen. A real derby.”
Patrice Evra: ‘And then the vomiting started’
Evra played almost 400 games for United between 2005 and 2014.
Here he talks about his difficult debut in January 2006 and why it is important for the Amorim players to show willingness on Sunday.
“The kick-off was at 12 o’clock for my first United match, against City away. The noisy neighbors. Not since I was a kid had I played a game this early. I saw Mikael Silvestre eating pasta at nine in the morning, so I went with him. And then the vomiting started. I thought this was the end of the day for me, but it ended. Now I know it was an allergy, but would I miss such a debut at the time? I didn’t tell anyone.
“It’s one of my clearest memories because it was a disaster and it made me realize I wasn’t ready for the Premier League. This wasn’t what we thought would happen. Even as a new player I knew Sir Alex had a great record against City. But being at home gave them self-confidence,
“From the start, Trevor Sinclair kept running past me and leaving me on my ass. I was in shock. I had played in the Champions League final and for France and there I was on my back.
“City targeted me, the new boy, and hit long balls to Sinclair, who ran straight at me. He scored and was involved in a second goal just before half time.
Evra struggled on his debut against Sinclair and City (John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
“I was taken off the pitch after Ferguson shouted at us during the break and I couldn’t understand a word. He still delivered his message. I have said before what he told me or how Carlos Queiroz translated it into French. ‘Evra! That’s enough! Now you can sit down, watch the match and learn to play English football in another match!’. When Queiroz told me I wouldn’t continue, I didn’t argue.
“Nemanja Vidic also played his first match. He stayed on the field. We lost 3-1. My agent Luca was there with his wife. It got worse because this should have been a great moment for him. He came to see me at the hotel. I opened the door and he almost cried when he saw me. Even his wife looked at me sadly. I didn’t feel sad, I felt like crap, empty, especially after the way Ferguson had talked to me.
“I hope Ruben Amorim has a better experience than me. Looking at this weekend’s game, I don’t know who will win, but I do know that the fans won’t forgive you if you don’t run, tackle or give your best. Even if you lose, you should never give up.
“United have had a bad season but it was the same last season and United beat City in the FA Cup final.
“For Amorim, he beat City a few weeks ago (while in charge of Sporting CP in the Champions League), but now he is playing for another team. It will be tough, but all I want to do on Monday is red shirts in the streets of See Manchester.”
(Top photo: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)