Rúben Amorim will ultimately be judged at Manchester United on closing the gap on Pep Guardiola, and on this stunning evidence he is ready for the challenge.

The Portuguese coach predicted fans comparing him to Sir Alex Ferguson with victory against the great Guardiola in his final match at Estádio José Alvalade before heading to Old Trafford. Expectations will go through the roof of United’s rickety stadium after putting four past City.

His Sporting team came back from a disastrous start where they gifted Phil Foden a goal, with a blur of attacks either side of half-time that was too much for a City team who have now lost three in a row.

Viktor Gyokeres showed his class in front of goal with a hat-trick and Maximiliano Araujo scored directly from a kick-off. It was breathtaking  football that will have the United supporters salivating at the prospect of getting players in red shirts performing this way.

There were no empty seats at full-time as Amorim went on a lap of honour, pushed in front of the fans by his players. His squad gave him a guard of honour and gave him the bumps, throwing him high into the air.

Sporting fans serenaded Amorim with My Way and now the end is near. One more match away at Braga and he will be off to United.  This was an emotional farewell but a memorable one, displaying all the qualities that won him titles at Sporting after going almost two decades without.

Now his task is to do the same at United. Guardiola has seen off Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Erik Ten Hag, with Amorim the latest to try and break his dominance. Since arriving in English football it has been 6-0 to Guardiola in Premier League titles and 1-0 in Champions Leagues.

“I don’t know. I don’t know if he’s going to be better than we are,” said Guardiola. “We will have to wait. Welcome, of course. I’m happy to see him and wish him all the best but I don’t know what’s going to happen with Ruben in the next two, three, four years. Only Ruben can answer that with his work.”

If Amorim can get United’s players attacking with the efficiency of his Sporting squad, they will surely be climbing up the table soon. His team takes risks and it meant Foden opened the scoring when possession was lost in a dangerous area – but going forward they were irresistible. “We could have scored more,” was Amorim’s assessment afterwards.

“If you’ve seen sporting over the last four years, we deserved a night like that. It was a very special night,” said Amorim. “I will keep these memories forever, it was a beautfil moment. It was written that it would end like this.

“If we hadn’t won the match, the moment wouldn’t be so nice. It was better with win over City. I wasn’t expecting to be raised in the air, I know what I did for them, and what they did for me.”

“Obrigado” read the giant tifo banner unfurled before kick-off, displaying all the trophies Amorim won with Sporting. Thanks. Now the test will be whether the system Amorim, honed over the last four years at Sporting, will work in England. He is wedded to three at the back, with high intensity pressing from the front – and will unleash his tactics on Ipswich on Nov 24.

How United would love a striker like Gyokeres, who took his goals with confidence, firstly levelling the match with a “dink” over Ederson where he stubbed the ball into the ground for elevation. It was world-class finishing.

Sporting’s whirlwind start to the second half started with a goal straight from the restart, with City not touching the ball beside Ederson deflecting into his own net. Pedro “Pote” Gonçalves slipped through Araujo and his powerful finish sparked wild celebrations.

They extended their lead through Gyokeres’ penalty, which came after Josko Gvardiol barged over Francisco Trincao, with no reprieve from VAR. But the TV replays gave Erling Haaland a chance from the penalty spot when Zeno Bebast blocked with his arm. The spot-kick smashed against the crossbar to safety – it was not City’s evening.

Matheus Nunes hauled back Geny Catamo for the next penalty, with Gyokeres finishing calmly for his hat-trick.  “We don’t have to touch the opponent in the 18-yard box,” said Guardiola.

“Emotionally we were not stable enough and in this competition you have to be stable. At 2-1, many things can happen. We have to be emotionally more stable. It was a very good action for them. They made a good moment, they were fast and scored.”

After seeing out the win, there was the emotional send-off during Amorim’s lap of honour. “We will miss him a lot,” said Gyokeres. “We’ve done amazing things together. We will miss him and the other guys in the staff who will leave. We have to look forward and attack the next challenge ahead of us.”

10:38 PM GMT

More from the City boss

TNT Sports asked Guardiola if defensive changes for his side have been a problem, to which he responded:

10:34 PM GMT

Pep Guardiola speaks to TNT Sports

10:23 PM GMT

Bernardo Silva: City are in a dark place

Speaking to TNT Sports, the City player said:

10:20 PM GMT

Victor Gyokeres reacts

Speaking to Uefa after the match, the Sporting forward said:

On manager Ruben Amorim leaving for Manchester United:

10:19 PM GMT

A dream send-off for the Sporting boss

10:14 PM GMT

How the table looks

Tonight’s result sends Sporting up into second place in the Champions League table. After four games, they have 10 points - with three wins and a draw. They are currently bettered only by Liverpool who thrashed Bayern Leverkusen 4-0 tonight. They haven’t dropped a single point in the Champions League so far and sit top of the table with 12 points.

City are now in sixth place with seven points - an unchanged tally after tonight’s loss. With plenty more games to come this game week, they could find themselves down in the bottom half of the table by the end of it.

10:07 PM GMT

What a player

After his incredible hattrick against Man City tonight, find out more about Sporting’s star-boy Viktor Gyokeres in Sam Dean’s report here.

10:05 PM GMT

Wonder what Guardiola is saying here...

09:59 PM GMT

This is just the third time that Guardiola has lost three games in a row with Man City...

1) April 4-10, 2018

- Liverpool (3-0 away, Champions League)

- Manchester United (3-2 home, Premier League)

- Liverpool (2-1 home, Champions League)

2) May 29-August 15, 2021

- Chelsea (1-0, neutral venue, Champions League final)

- Leicester City (1-0, neutral venue, Community Shield)

- Tottenham Hotspur (1-0 away, Premier League)

3) October 30-November 5, 2024

- Tottenham Hotspur (2-1 away, Carabao Cup)

- Bournemouth 2-1 away, Premier League)

- Sporting (3-1 away, Champions League)

09:57 PM GMT

Full-time: Sporting 4 Man City 1

Wow. What a night for Sporting - the perfect send-off for Amorim in his final home match with the Portuguese club.

And an absolutely disastrous performance from Man City. They were well off-pace this evening. Despite controlling the first half and creating numerous chances, they were held back and defensive errors cost them greatly. It’s three losses in a row now - Guardiola has never lost four in succession with this team.

Amorim and his team head towards the fans to celebrate their big success. The next time the two managers meet will be in the Premier League...

09:54 PM GMT

90+4 mins: Sporting 4 Man City 1

De Bruyne fires a tame effort at the Sporting goal which Israel easily collects.

City certainly haven’t been short on chances this evening. Haaland could have easily scored four or five goals - he had plenty of shots and even a penalty. “He will be devastated,” Noel Gallagher remarks. “Absolutely devastated.”

09:51 PM GMT

90+2 mins: Sporting 4 Man City 1

The visitors have a penalty which De Bruyne massively over-hits. It goes out of play for a goal kick.

That just about sums it up for City tonight - they have been massively off their usual pace. The bench is filled with frustrated faces and Guardiola looks on glumly from the sidelines.

09:49 PM GMT

89 mins: Sporting 4 Man City 1

Sporting’s Hjulmand is the latest player to be booked. The hosts then make a change, with Trincao coming off for Harder.

The fourth official announces five minutes of additional time...

09:47 PM GMT

87 mins: Sporting 4 Man City 1

The Sporting fans hold their green and white scarves high and sing in full voice. It truly has been the perfect send-off for their manager in his final home game.

09:45 PM GMT

84 mins: Sporting 4 Man City 1

De Bruyne joins the game, replacing Kovacic. He has just six minutes of normal time to make an impact...

“I’m not sure what he’s really meant to do in the time he’s got,” Noel Gallagher remarks, sounding slightly exasperated. Not exactly the dream commentary debut for the Manchester City fan...

09:40 PM GMT

GOAL!

Sporting 4 Man City 1 (Gyokeres, 80)

The host’s starboy has his hat-trick! What a night for Sporting - it truly has been the perfect send-off for Amorim.

Gyokeres steps up, Ederson goes the right way and manages to brush his fingertips to the ball, but it isn’t enough as the forward’s powerful effort hits the back of the net.

The visitors are absolutely reeling.

09:38 PM GMT

78 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Sporting have another penalty - Gyokeres has a chance to secure his hat-trick.

It is sloppy defending from Nunes - he catches Catamo’s leg and pulls him down in the box.

Up steps Gyokeres...

09:36 PM GMT

75 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Changes for both sides:

Araujo, Reis, and Morita are replaced by St. Juste, Catamo, and Braganca for Sporting.

Guardiola opts to take off Savinho and Silva and they are replaced by Doku and Gundogan.

09:34 PM GMT

73 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Araujo is beaten by Savinho who charges into the box and all the former can do is attempt to drag his man back, for which he receives a booking. Savinho expresses his anger and also ends up in the referee’s book.

Foden takes the resultant free kick which floats just wide of the goal.

09:30 PM GMT

71 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

A tame strike from Savinho weaves through the defenders but is easily gathered by Israel.

Just 19 minutes left in this game now - surely Guardiola will be ringing the changes soon.

09:28 PM GMT

68 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Haaland misses the penalty!

He runs up to the ball, strikes, and his effort rattles the crossbar. The ball bounces away to safety and Diomande, who conceded the penalty, celebrates wildly with the Sporting goalkeeper.

That effort sums up Haaland’s game so far this evening - he’s just not quite on it.

Ear-piercing shrieks of derision give way to a chorus of jubilation as Erling Haaland, stunningly, misses from the penalty spot, cannoning his shot against the bar. You know City are in a mini-crisis when even their Nordic assassin malfunctions from 12 yards.

09:25 PM GMT

66 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

... And the referee gives it! City have a way back into this game.

McCoist on commentary is very unimpressed as he argues it would never be given in the Premier League. “Very very harsh,” he says.

Up steps Haaland...

09:24 PM GMT

64 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

A VAR check is underway for a potential City penalty after a possible Diomande handball in the penalty area.

The referee is going over to the screen to take a look...

09:22 PM GMT

62 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

The hosts are starting to sit back and City are slowly starting to reassert some dominance in this game.

Savinho finds a way in down the right flank and sends a left-footed shot towards goal. It takes two big deflections and is eventually gathered by Israel.

09:19 PM GMT

60 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Savinho attempts an effort from a tricky angle but it glances over the crossbar.

Doku and De Bruyne are warming up on the sidelines - they will surely be introduced very shortly.

09:16 PM GMT

57 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Foden flicks the free kick into the box but it takes a massive deflection and goes out for a City corner.

Nunes takes it, looking for Haaland’s head, but Sporting manages to clear the danger.

09:15 PM GMT

56 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

Goncalves receives a yellow card after taking down Lewis just on the edge of the Sporting box.

A great chance for City to get a goal back. Foden stands over the ball, just outside the box, as the players assemble the wall...

09:12 PM GMT

52 mins: Sporting 3 Man City 1

A break in play gives the City players a few seconds to recover after that shocking start to the half. Guardiola looks absolutely stunned on the sidelines. Akanji is down with a head collision, but after a few minutes, is fine to continue.

Noal Gallagher on commentary, not sounding quite as jolly as he did in the first half:

09:08 PM GMT

GOAL!

Sporting 3 Man City 1 (Gyokeres, 49)

An absolutely disastrous start to the second half for the visitors.

Gyokeres steps up to the spot. He sends Ederson the wrong way and powers the ball into the bottom right of the net.

What a start to this half.

Pep Guardiola does not have the happiest memories of this stadium. I recall being here in 2020, for the ghostly final stages of a behind-closed-door Champions League at the height of the pandemic. City lost a match they had expected to win easily that night, too, with Lyon prevailing 3-1.

Now they are staring down the barrel of the same scoreline thanks to a quite extraordinary start to this second half, with Araujo pouncing just 20 seconds after kick-off and Gyokeres lashing in a penalty given for the daftest of challenges by Gvardiol. City have only lost three games in a row twice during Guardiola’s eight-year tenure. That sequence looks likely to be extended. They are all at sea at the moment.

09:06 PM GMT

46 mins: Sporting 2 Man City 1

And now Sporting have a penalty!

It’s a rash challenge from Gvardiol on Trincao. Completely unnecessary as he barges him down inside the area. The referee does not hesitate and points to the spot.

Up steps Gyokeres...

09:05 PM GMT

GOAL!!

Sporting 2 Man City 1 (Araujo, 46)

Wow - what a start to the second half for the hosts!

The goal comes straight from kick-off. Sporting work the ball around the back before Goncalves creates space with a brilliant turn.

He threads a neat pass through to Araujo who takes a first-time finish past Ederson.

09:04 PM GMT

45 mins: Sporting 1 Man City 1

We are back underway for the second half at the Estádio José Alvalade.

08:50 PM GMT

Half-time: Sporting 1 Man City 1

The visitors looked firmly in charge for the majority of the first half. Foden’s opener kick-started a period of relentless pressure from City which the Sporting back line and goalkeeper struggled to deal with. Haaland had four chances but Israel managed to deny him each and every time.

Then, it all turned on its head, with Sporting star-boy Gyokeres scoring the equaliser for the hosts. The Estádio José Alvalade came alive, and from that moment, the hosts were firmly on the front foot.

The visitors will go into half-time wondering how on earth they are level, while Sporting will be feeling a renewed sense of confidence with how those first 45 minutes ended.

08:47 PM GMT

45 mins: Sporting 1 Man City 1

Kovacic is the first player of the night to go into the referee’s book after a late tackle on Morita.

The fourth official announces one minute of additional time at the end of the first half.

08:45 PM GMT

41 mins: Sporting 1 Man City 1

The hosts are back in this. Trincao and Goncalves work the ball towards goal and the latter attempts a shot from a tight angle which fires over.

City then attack on the counter - Nunes has a shot from distance but it is easy for Israel to tip over the crossbar.

08:41 PM GMT

GOAL!

Sporting 1 Man City 1 (Gyokeres, 38)

Completely against the run of play, the hosts equalise and the Estádio José Alvalade comes alive!

It is a perfectly timed run by Gyokeres. He gains possession in plenty of space in midfield and charges towards goal.

The forward holds off Simpson-Pusey very well, runs into the box and bounces it over Ederson and into the back of the net.

That is an exquisite finish by Gyokeres to soothe the pain of his earlier miss. Timing his run perfectly to evade the attentions of Simpson-Pusey, he first hits the ball into the ground, then rifles in a wonderful strike as it pops up to spark raptures among the Sporting crowd. Now we see why Sporting’s recruitment strategy is so envied by the giants of the Premier League, and why the 26-year-old is now valued at £60 million.

08:37 PM GMT

33 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

Foden flicks a lovely ball into the path of Silva inside the box. He wants to shoot but is outmuscled by Diomande, who wins the ball back and secures a goal kick for his side.

08:34 PM GMT

30 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

Yet another chance for Haaland is saved by Israel - it has been a feisty battle between the pair so far.

The striker meets a neat cross from Foden inside the box. He takes a shot with the side of his foot which volleys towards goal, but Israel denies him with a diving save down to his right.

The striker’s fourth chance of the night - surely one will find the net soon...

08:31 PM GMT

27 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

A big clearance off the line to deny Haaland.

Foden runs through the Sporting defence and into the box yet again but is denied a shot by an important block from Reis.

City have another corner, which Foden takes. Haaland awaits at the near post and loops a header towards the goal. It beats the goalkeeper but Gyokeres manages to clear it away from danger.

The striker is mere inches from getting his side’s second.

08:27 PM GMT

22 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

The hosts are panicking in front of goal at the moment - Israel struggling under pressure from the City attack.

Savinho wins a corner which Foden takes. He goes deep but Gvardiol heads wide of the far post.

Moments later, City win another corner after Savinho plays down the right and fires a cross into the box which the goalkeeper manages to clear. Foden takes the corner short and Israel manages to punch it away from danger.

08:24 PM GMT

20 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

Israel gets himself into a mess just in front of his goal.

His defender plays a pass to him, but under heavy pressure from Haaland, he is unable to collect it - leading to the pair struggling for possesssion just inches from goal.

The Sporting goalkeeper eventually manages to recover.

then wins the ball back inside the penalty area before clipping a cross towards Haaland. The defenders manage to clear.

08:20 PM GMT

18 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

A bright start from the visitors so far. TNT’s newest commentator and Manchester City fan, Noel Gallagher, certainly thinks so:

08:18 PM GMT

14 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

Another early chance for Haaland.

It is a great ball in from the half-way line from Nunes. Haaland runs onto it and takes a touch before thrashing a powerful strike just wide.

Uncharacteristically off-target from the striker.

08:13 PM GMT

9 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

End to end stuff at the moment - both teams finding themselves in plenty of space all over the pitch.

Haaland forces Israel into a stretching, one-handed save. Sporting then attack on the counter but it is quickly dealt with by the City back line.

08:11 PM GMT

7 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

A massive chance for Gyokeres to equalise for the hosts.

He finds himself in acres of space, charges down the middle of the pitch and ends up one-on-one with Ederson. He clearly thinks the goalkeeper is going to go down, tries to dink it, and ends up shooting straight into Ederson’s hands.

The silence in the stands here said much about fans’ disbelief at how easily the Sporting defence was carved open. Certainly, a fourth-minute deficit has punctured the poignancy of Ruben Amorim’s final home game for the club.

The electricity briefly surges once more as Viktor Gyokeres, formerly of Coventry City, bears down on Ederson in a one-on-one, but the Swede’s tame finish belongs more in the Championship than the Champions League.

08:09 PM GMT

6 mins: Sporting 0 Man City 1

It’s all City in these opening stages - 79 per cent possession for the visitors so far.

The visitors win possession high up and Kovacic takes a shot which is deflected out for a corner. It is taken quickly but Sporting easily clear.

08:06 PM GMT

GOAL!

Sporting 0 Man City 1 (Foden, 4)

A great finish from Foden.

After an early period of sustained pressure, the visitors take the lead.

Foden gains possession after a mistake from Morita in midfield. He charges forward, finds himself in plenty of space, and shoots from just inside the penalty area.

Game on.

08:01 PM GMT

Kick-off!

Here we go. The visitors get the Champions League game underway as the home fans make their voices heard for their manager.

07:58 PM GMT

‘Ruben Amorim Obrigado’

The atmosphere is electric at the Estádio José Alvalade as the players make their way onto the pitch.

It is expected to be an emotional night, with this being Ruben Amorim’s last home match as Sporting boss.

As the Champions League anthem plays around the sold-out stadium, a large banner reading “Ruben Amorim Obrigado” with an image of the main man and his Sporting silverware is unveiled across one of the stands. A touching moment - a few fans around the stadium can be seen with tears in their eyes.

A giant “Ruben Amorim: Obrigado” tifo is hung inside the Estadio Jose Alvalade to thank the departing manager, complete with an image of his two Portuguese league titles and and three domestic cup trophies. You sense his exit will leave a crater for this fanbase, who salute him with a choreographed firecracker display.

07:52 PM GMT

Big night for the academy graduate

It is indicative of the scale of Manchester City’s injury crisis that they have drafted in Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to start a Champions League away game. The 19-year-old academy product has only been trusted with 16 minutes of first-team action so far, in a Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham.

07:47 PM GMT

15 minutes to go...

Here is a reminder of the starting line-ups:

Sporting XI: Israel, Debast, Siomande, Matheus Reis, Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Araujo, Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves.

Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Haaland, Savinho.

07:44 PM GMT

The visitors get warm

07:31 PM GMT

Noel Gallagher is in the building

The Oasis front-man and Manchester City fan is on commentary duties for TNT Sports this evening!

Speaking ahead of the match, alongside Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, he said:

It will be interesting to hear how he fares as a commentator throughout this match...

07:16 PM GMT

The curious case of Ruben Amorim, Hugo Viana, their wives and the Manchester rivalry

It will be an emotional farewell at Estádio José Alvalade tonight as Ruben Amorim takes charge of his final home game as manager of Sporting. He will wave goodbye to the fans but it also marks the end of a partnership that has changed the face of Portuguese football in the last four years.

As Mike McGrath explains, working quietly in the background in Lisbon while Amorim has delivered two Primeira Liga titles has been director of football Hugo Viana, the former Newcastle United midfielder who has been hugely successful in recent seasons at finding players and making huge profits for Sporting.

They were former team-mates at Braga, both have ties to lower-league Belenenses FC, and are so close that their wives are business partners together as interior designers. But now Amorim is heading to Manchester United for the ultimate football renovation project, while Viana is joining Manchester City in the summer - however, their other halves have no plans to end their own successful working relationship.

Mike has the full story here.

07:06 PM GMT

An emotional night ahead for Amorim

Not many fans are in the stadium yet but they gave Ruben Amorim a round of applause when he emerged from the dressing rooms for pre-match media duties.

He joked with one presenter while on air, giving a friendly hug. Yesterday he admitted it would be an emotional evening, his final match at Estádio José Alvalade.

07:01 PM GMT

Simpson-Pusey makes first start for visitors

Centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey makes his full senior debut for Manchester City tonight, just a day after his 19th birthday. Kyle Walker is on the bench, having played with a minor injury in his team’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth at the weekend.

As expected, despite taking a knock in training this week, Haaland starts - as does Savinho, who was stretchered off the pitch just days ago. Kevin de Bruyne is back on the bench following injury.

Sporting’s star-man Viktor Gyokeres starts up front for Ruben Amorim. In the Portuguese League so far this season, he has started all 10 matches and has already scored 16 goals. His impact for the team is undeniable and fans will be hoping he can make an impact against their visitors tonight.

06:52 PM GMT

An encounter with Jubas

I got the lift to the media tribune with Jubas, the mascot of Sporting. It was a no comment on Amorim’s departure.

06:49 PM GMT

And how the hosts line up:

06:47 PM GMT

Man City starting XI:

06:33 PM GMT

Ruben Amorim: Beat Man City and United fans will call me the new Alex Ferguson

The Sporting boss expects to be compared to Alex Ferguson with a victory against Manchester City in his final home game before starting at Old Trafford next week.

As reported by Mike McGrath, the Portuguese coach, 39, anticipates an emotional farewell at Estádio José Alvalade as he serves his notice with Sporting after agreeing his move to Manchester United to succeed Erik ten Hag.

Sporting have a 100 per cent record in Primeira Liga this season and Amorim admits confidence in him being a success at United will grow if he can defeat Pep Guardiola, who he regards as the best coach in the world. He then faces Braga at the weekend before starting at his new club.

“If the result is negative, expectations will drop; if we win they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived,” Amorim said. “What interests me is to win, a good farewell in Alvalade, win in Braga and start a new adventure in Manchester. What I want is to leave the fans and my players happy for what is to come in the new season.”

Read the full story from Mike here.

We will have team news for you shortly...

06:26 PM GMT

Preview: Man City injuries make another treble impossible, says Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has written off the chances of Manchester City winning another treble this season due to their injury crisis.

City have travelled to Sporting Lisbon with Rodri, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Oscar Bobb sidelined and the likes of Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Manuel Akanji playing through minor problems. Erling Haaland went over in training ahead of the game in Portugal but is fit, although may need to rest in the international break according to his manager.

Guardiola says missing players makes it impossible to win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup as they did in 2022-23. His team will face Ruben Amorim’s Sporting team having lost at Bournemouth at the weekend and in the League Cup to Tottenham last week.

“It’s more difficult because we have a lot of absences,” said Guardiola. “Sometimes there are seasons where it happens, to win the treble everything has to be on the same page – no injuries, good momentum, opponents drop points at the right time.

“This is not possible because Oscar was the best player in pre-season and we miss him a lot, Jack is still not fit and Rodri the best player in the world is not here for the rest of the season.

“We know that we are going to struggle and that is the point. Accept that we are going to struggle and it is fine. Every game will be more difficult than when everything was smooth so it’s not a situation that is always the same, we won six titles in seven years and situations change. It’s the reality.

“As much as we accept and the middle class in the Premier League has risen unbelievably. The top class teams were always there – add Newcastle and Tottenham but after you see Fulham, Brentford, most of the teams. We have suffered against Wolves and Southampton.

“That doesn’t mean we are bad, or we are not going to fight for the titles. When you lose sometimes, the opponents can be better.”

Bernardo Silva is refusing to use the injuries as an excuse, and said: “This club was never about that. Kevin [De Bruyne] was injured and we managed to win the league. Perform well individually, do your work and help the team.”