Man City opponent Ruben Amorim couldn't be further from 'the next Mourinho' tag

It was just a passing comment, but few quotes better sum up the latest managerial superstar produced in Portugal, Ruben Amorim.

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Bernardo Silva and Diogo Jota, it's hard to find a top team in either England or Europe that isn't heavily influenced by at least one Portuguese player.

Gold dust continues to be found in the Primeira Liga, but the greatest talent to emerge since Ronaldo and Mourinho could be one on the bench, rather than the pitch.

Amorim's ascent has been as sharp as fathombly possible, appointed as Braga reserve boss in September 2019, it was just four months before the former Portugal midfielder was given the first team job, and began with a 7-1 destruction of Belenenses.

Soon 10 wins and a draw followed in all domestic competitions, winning the League Cup final and racking up wins against all of 'Os Tres Grandes' - the big three.

One of them had seen enough, with Sporting CP handing Amorim a contract featuring a €20million (£16.75m) release clause, by far the biggest in the history of Portuguese football, just four months into his professional career.

Incredibly though, that clause soon looked cheap, with Amorim guiding the faltering giants to their first league title in 19 years, ending a curse and cementing legendary status in his home country.

Turning out for Lisbon rivals Benfica over 150 times as a player, Amorim even featured alongside Ronaldo for Portugal at two World Cups, and could soon be in the running to become his next club manager.

The 37-year-old is clearly destined for greatness, which has led to him being labelled 'the next Mourinho' but in reality, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Every imaginable criticism of Mourinho over the years, Amorim is the antithesis of.

Mourinho doesn't like youth, Amorim won the title with teenagers dotted all over the pitch, turning debutants into superstars in mere weeks.

Mourinho is arrogant, Amorim always takes the blame for defeats, and always ensures that his players are the ones given the credit for wins.

Upon winning his Sporting's historic title, he even made sure his staff were present for the press conference, sharing the plaudits for such an incredible victory that was mostly down to him.

Even in Sporting's most recent match against title rivals Porto, the former midfielder showed his class, establishing calm on the field as a melee broke out at full time, before embracing rival boss Sergio Conceicao despite tensions at fever pitch.

Earmarked by some as Carlo Ancelotti's successor at Real Madrid, Amorim has also been mooted to be in the running to replace Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United.

Asked about those reports, his answer was as anti-Mourinho as ever.

"These are just rumours," Amorim said. "I don't attach any importance to it. I think Manchester United should contact [Ajax manager] Erik ten Hag, and right away!"

The only real similarity between Mourinho and Amorim is their nationality, but the Champions League presents an opportunity for another parallel to appear.

In February 2004, Mourinho announced himself to the UK with an iconic sprint down the touchline at Old Trafford as his Porto side knocked Man United out of Europe before winning the competition.

The chances of a repeat look slim with the chasm in quality between Sporting and last 16 opponents Manchester City.

But if Amorim is to captivate the English audience by causing an upset against Pep Guardiola's favourites, you can be sure the celebrations certainly won't be about him.