Man City's unwanted role in Man United's Ruben Amorim appointment could be welcome distraction

Manchester City will travel to the club where their next sporting director is still employed next week, and they will do so without a whole host of their injured stars.

But all the attention next week in Lisbon will be firmly on Sporting manager Ruben Amorim and his expected move to Manchester United.

There is every chance Amorim will still be in charge at Sporting for City's Champions League visit - it is widely reported that he will only take over from Erik ten Hag at United during the November international break, leaving him to serve a notice period including the clash with City.

ALSO READ: Manu Akanji hands Man City major injury boost after missing Tottenham win

ALSO READ: I saw Man City player offer Pep Guardiola wildcard solution to solve injury problems vs Bournemouth

So when the Blues take a slice of Mancunia to Lisbon next week as reigning World Champions and 2023 European Champions, they may be bumped down to the second biggest story from Manchester. It's a feeling City fans will be firmly used to when travelling abroad and mentioning their hometown, only to be met with the reply: '"United?"

While it may jar with a few Blues, the distraction could benefit them. They are in the middle of a biting injury crisis and will take a thin, stretched squad to Portugal. They will always be favourites for games like these, and won 5-0 on their last visit to Sporting., but Pep Guardiola knows how difficult that last game was and how clinical City were to disguise the true nature of the contest.

With Amorim likely taking charge of his final home game, it adds unpredictability that Guardiola will not like.

There will, of course, be questions about Hugo Viana, the chosen successor to Txiki Begiristain at City who will begin work in the new year before taking over full-time next summer. That appointment led to speculation that Amorim could be picked as a potential Guardiola replacement if one were needed this summer.

It may have been a case of two plus two equalling five. City want a manager (when the time comes) with a different playing style to Amorim, who favours three at the back, and Liverpool were said to be put off him this year for the same reason. His close links to Viana and City's success built on Begiristain and Guardiola's relationship created a tempting story, but the truth was different.

Amorim said he spent Wednesday night watching City at Tottenham in anticipation of the Champions League clash, rather than United's win over Leicester. He is still focused on his current job and you can expect him to deflect the inevitable United questions by continuing to talk about City.

The game was already going to have plenty of interest given the Viana appointment. If (when) Amorim is appointed at United, one of his first Premier League games will be a derby at City - an early opportunity to win fans over. Can either manager set to be in the dugouts at the Etihad on December 15 get an early psychological boost over the other?

In truth, City were never in the conversation around Amorim. But the fixture list has thrust them into the narrative and they can benefit from United being the focus in Portugal next week. If it distracts from their injury woes and lets Viana get on with his transition from Sporting to City, it could be a welcome distraction.

And a reminder for Amorim of the levels he will have to get United to if he doesn't want to follow Ten Hag through the revolving door at Old Trafford.