Pep Guardiola has told Manchester United they have sacked a ‘top manager’ in Ruben Amorim and claims the Red Devils could be ‘close’ to Arsenal in another world.
The Manchester City boss wished Amorim ‘all the best for the future’ in his first press conference since his former rival was sacked at the start of the week.
Amorim’s disappointing and turbulent 14-month spell as United manager came to an end on Monday, with poor performances on the pitch and growing tensions off it costing the ex-Sporting boss his job.
Manchester United finished just 15th in the Premier League last season and have continued to underwhelm this term despite small signs of progress.
Guardiola believes Amorim is still a ‘top manager’, however, and has defended the recent run of results which ultimately led to his dismissal.
The City boss, one of the greatest managers of all time, even suggested Manchester United could be ‘close’ to Premier League leaders Arsenal had a few results gone a different way.
‘It is a fact that managers get less time than before,’ Guardiola said on Tuesday afternoon. ‘We saw what happened with Enzo [Maresca] as well.
‘I have nothing but respect for the players and the institutions of Chelsea and Man United. All I can say is Ruben is a top manager.
‘The decision has been made by our neighbours so I wish him Ruben all the best in the future.’
Guardiola added: ‘There is not a country where you are safe [as a manager] if you don’t win games, there are no exceptions.
‘If you don’t get results it doesn’t matter. Every manager is hired for their ideas and you are sacked for the results.
‘Sometimes you need a process and time. Man United drew three games at home and their opponents do an incredible job – Everton, Bournemouth.
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‘But with different results they [United] would be close to Arsenal so the differences are sometimes so, so small.
‘In the last games they also have a lot of absence – players are injured or at AFCON – and it’s difficult to cope.
‘When important players are not available it’s more difficult but the reasons why, to be honest I don’t know.’
Amorim won just one of his final five games in charge of Manchester United, dropping points at home to bottom-placed Wolves and relegation battlers Leeds.
That disappointing run of form has left United sixth in the Premier League, three points outside the Champions League places and 17 behind title favourites Arsenal.
Ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been placed in temporary charge of his former club and will be in the dugout for Wednesday’s trip to Burnley.
The Red Devils hope to have appointed a full-time caretaker manager in time for the Manchester derby on January 17 who will be in charge until the end of the season.
As a result United are not expected to confirm Amorim’s permanent replacement until the summer. Oliver Glasner and Thomas Tuchel are the two current favourites for the job.
Reacting to Amorim’s sacking, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said on his podcast: ‘Two managers now, [Enzo] Maresca at Chelsea and now Amorim at Manchester United have spoken out against the hierarchy and have been sacked immediately.
‘What I would say is his record is actually the worst of any manager at United post-Sir Alex Ferguson. So when you look at it like that you go, are you really surprised?
‘I saw his last two press conferences, and I was sitting there thinking something’s not right here.
‘This guy, one of his best traits and most likeable things about him has always been his ability to be quite punchy in his press conferences, upbeat and he had quite a jovial way about himself in those press conferences.
‘The last two press conferences that he did looked depressing.’
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