Life after Amorim: rookie Sporting boss Joao Pereira prepares for Gunners challenge

The new Manchester United boss gave his successor in Lisbon his blessing before his departure to the Premier League.

New head coach Joao Pereira of Sporting CP before the start of the Portuguese Cup match against Amarante FC. Pic:  Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

RUBEN AMORIM’s presence can still be felt in the corridors of power at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, home of Sporting Clube de Portugal (they do not like being called Sporting Lisbon). Amorim is the man who returned them to a footballing power in Portugal. He has now completed his first match in charge of Manchester United, having left here with the parting gift of a Champions League thrashing of Manchester City.

For Tuesday night's visit of Arsenal and the foreseeable future, he has been replaced by one of his former league-winning defenders and ex-reserve team coach Joao Pereira. The 40-year-old, who came through the ranks at Benfica and won 40 caps for Portugal, looked at ease as he fielded as many questions about Amorim as he did himself when he addressed the media ahead of the biggest and only second match of his managerial career.