That's one viewpoint Tom, but it is important to note that it was Ruben Amorim's choice to make...and he clearly felt it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down.

Ruben Amorim was keen to remain humble after last night's stunning win over Manchester City.

The Sporting boss was clear that the Spaniard sets the managerial standard he hopes to reach.

"He [Guardiola] is so much better than me at the moment," Amorim said post-match.

"But I believe a lot in my newest club. We will start from a lower level, maybe I can say that, and we will improve the team, the club. Let's see..."

Image source, Getty Images

After Manchester City's 4-1 defeat in Lisbon last night, the next time Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim will face each other in opposite dugouts will be at the Etihad in the Manchester derby on 15 December.

But what does Amorim - who will take charge of City's local rivals Manchester United on 11 November - have in store when he faces Guardiola across the Manchester divide?

Image source, Opta

Guardiola’s City team has never had less than 50% possession against a United side. The lowest recorded was 51.9% in a 1-0 League Cup defeat at Old Trafford in October 2016.

Guardiola’s City enjoyed more than 70% possession in three games against Erik ten Hag’s United, but two of those were defeats - a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Old Trafford in January 2023 and the FA Cup final loss in May. That Wembley loss saw City have 73.6% possession – Guardiola’s highest against United for City, but also face 11 shots.

Last night, City recorded 72.7% possession and 20 shots to Sporting's nine but still came away from the Estadio Jose Alvalade with a 4-1 defeat.

Guardiola has the best record of any manager with more than 10 games played against Manchester United in the Premier League. He has nine wins from 16 games with a 56.3% win record. That ratio is only bettered by Mikel Arteta (66.7%) - but his is from only nine Premier League games.

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on Football Daily podcast

He will be the first manager to be adored before he has even walked through the door, potentially a statue up outside! It is quite incredible isn't it.

Manchester United fans will be excited, obviously after seeing that. I bet the viewing figures tonight to watch that game would have been a lot of Manchester United fans wondering "how are we going to play? What is the system going to be? What is the manager like? What are his mannerisms like on the touchline? How involved is he in the game? How animated is he?".

They will be very excited by this result and rightly so because they want some belief and some optimism around their football club.

There will be a real belief now that this guy can come in and [change things].

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Lisbon

Image source, Getty Images

Sporting regulars in the media tribune said their 4-1 victory over English champions Manchester City was the greatest single game of departing manager Ruben Amorim’s reign, which has one more match to go, at Braga on Sunday.

"I think that it was clearly a landmark, big moment for everyone, the result, and that helped with the feeling of the goodbye to the fans," said Amorim afterwards.

"I think everyone here deserved this moment, we were very happy here at the Jose Alvalade and to end in such a way adds a special touch. I think everyone deserved this."

The fear in this part of Lisbon must be that momentum from seven successive victories in all competitions cannot be maintained. Not that it tempered the celebrations at the final whistle.

As for Amorim, he joked on Monday that a victory might mean United fans start comparing him to Sir Alex Ferguson.

That might be a stretch. But, there could not have been a better way to shove a huge amount of credit in the bank.

Following a 4-1 victory for his Sporting side against Manchester City, incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says he is "ready for the challenge" of the Premier League.

While Manchester City are undoubtedly going through a tough spell at the moment, Sporting boss Ruben Amorim is living his best life.

He leaves the Portuguese champions in a great place - unbeaten this season, with 15 wins and two draws in all competitions.

And after a final league game against Braga, the 39-year-old head coach will take up his role at Manchester United on the back of a statement win against his new club's biggest rivals...

So the question is, should Manchester City be worried as they head to Brighton on Saturday on the back of a third consecutive loss, or will they take out their frustrations on Fabian Hurzeler's in-form side?

History suggests the latter.

City have enjoyed a number of heavy wins at Brighton during Pep Guardiola's time at the Etihad.

Since the 2017-18 season, the Premier League champions have won five, drawn one and lost one at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League:

• 2023-24 - Brighton 0-4 Man City
• 2022-23 - Brighton 1-1 Man City
• 2021-22 - Brighton 1-4 Man City
• 2020-21 - Brighton 3-2 Man City
• 2019-20 - Brighton 0-5 Man City
• 2018-19 - Brighton 1-4 Man City
• 2017-18 - Brighton 0-2 Man City

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on Football Daily

I don't get too worried about them [Manchester City] as more often than not Guardiola finds the answers. This will hurt the players, Their pride will be very hurt, dented.

They will want to respond, they will want to answer everyone back. More often than not when they have had set backs, they have done that.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, for his part, came out fighting as he contemplated his side's worst sequence of results since 2018.

Only once during Guardiola’s reign had City lost three times in a row in a single season, before Tuesday night's defeat at Sporting.

Although he rejected Bernardo Silva’s post-match assertion that the club is currently in a "dark place", Guardiola also accepted after a defeat of this size, words are largely meaningless.

However, he is not backing away from the challenge.

"We knew it would be a tough season at the start," he said. "I like it. I love it. I want to face it and lift my players.

"I won’t give up, that’s for sure."

• Read more reaction from Guardiola.

Andros Townsend
Former England winger on Football Daily podcast

For me I don't worry about Manchester City. I know the turn of the year in February or March they are going to go on a 13, 14, 15-match winning streak and win the league again.

So, if it was Liverpool or Arsenal you would probably be more concerned, but City you know they have what it takes.

Image source, Getty Images

Just to put this debate into context.

Manchester City have lost their last three games:

• 5 Nov - 4-1 at Sporting in the Champions League
• 2 Nov - 2-1 at Bournemouth in the Premier League
• 30 Oct - 2-1 at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup last-16

But as City captain Bernardo Silva said, they are currently sixth in the Champions League table - well in the mix for an automatic route into the last 16 of Europe's top-flight competition - and are second in the Premier League, just two points behind leaders Liverpool after 10 games.

So is it a case of 'crisis? what crisis?', or should Silva, his team-mates and manager Pep Guardiola be concerned?

Andros Townsend thinks not...

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on Football Daily podcast

It's huge. It is one that sends shockwaves through Europe because everyone will be looking at that result after the last two results that Manchester City have had and they will all be thinking the same thing, 'what is going on?'

Why is it going so wrong? Is it just the fact that Manchester City have lost Rodri? Are there more problems? Are the players fatigued, that they are struggling without Rodri in the team? There could be a number of factors but for a club of Manchester City's quality and depth of squad, they should be able to deal with this situation.

Teams seem to be running over the top of them at the moment. The game against Bournemouth, they got outmuscled. They got outworked, there was more quality from Bournemouth which you do not often say about a Manchester City team.

Manchester City must now look to bounce back after their worst sequence of results since 2018.

The 4-1 Champions League defeat by Sporting in Lisbon was City’s third loss in a row.

As mentioned, skipper Bernardo Silva said the club is currently in a "dark place" so what is going wrong for the Premier League champions? Can their form be blamed on injuries? What needs to change?

We want to hear your views, along with reaction to big wins for Liverpool and Celtic, plus any thoughts from around the football world.

Get in touch via X using #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply). Please leave your name on text messages.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva accepts that the Premier League champions are going through a tough time.

"It's difficult to find the reasons why what is happening to us now," he said, as thoughts turn to a tough trip to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday as the side aim to avoid a fourth straight defeat.

"In seven and a half seasons, I don't remember three in a row.

"We're in a dark place. Everything looks to be going the wrong way.

"The good thing is even though we lost three games we're in good positions in the Premier League and Champions League. We're still fighting for everything, but we need to do better. It's just not good enough at the minute."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Lisbon

Image source, Getty Images

If the build-up to this game was all about Ruben Amorim and his impending move, much of the aftermath will be centred around Pep Guardiola and his team.

The injury issues City are wrestling with meant Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was handed his first senior start in central defence, less than a week after his first-team debut. Simpson-Pusey only turned 19 the day before the game and he was given a baptism of fire by hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres, who used all his experience to full effect.

The City boss has said this season will be "a struggle". That prediction is already coming true.

To help him out, he needs his senior players to have an impact. Phil Foden did so when he drove home his fourth goal of the season to set City on course for what seemed certain to be an easy win.

But early chances to double the advantage came and went and City were swept away by two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half.

Normally, a response would be expected. Had Erling Haaland converted his penalty, it might have come. The Norwegian has now failed to score in four of his last six games.

It is not just City as a whole who are struggling, individual players are too.

A defiant Pep Guardiola said that he relishes the challenge ahead for the season after Manchester City suffered their third defeat in a row across all competitions - losing 4-1 to Sporting on match week four of the Champions League.

BBC Sounds

We will be hearing from Pep Guardiola next and delving further into reaction to Manchester City's defeat at Sporting, which adds a little spice to the impending arrival of Ruben Amorim - departing head coach of the Portuguese champions - as new manager at Manchester United.

Can we also direct you to the Champions League Debrief - the latest edition of the Football Daily podcast is available to listen to now on BBC Sounds.

Kelly Cates is joined by BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis and ex-England internationals Stephen Warnock and Andros Townsend to reflect on a bad night for the Premier League champions, as well as significant wins for Liverpool and Celtic.

We will bring you a flavour of what Ian, Stephen and Andros had to say throughout the morning.