Ruben Amorim and Nuno Espirito Santo will meet at Old Trafford on Saturday (Image: Getty)
As former stalwarts of Portuguese football, and are already perfectly familiar with each other heading into their meeting on Saturday.
And there is one incident which Nuno would rather forget when he leads his team out to face Amorim’s at Old Trafford. Nuno’s professional career was winding down by the time he lined up in goal for FC Porto in the 2010 Taca da Liga final.
Amorim, meanwhile, was entering his prime when he was named on the Benfica team sheet alongside the likes of David Luiz and Angel Di Maria.
Although not a prolific scorer, with only six goals in over 150 appearances for the Portuguese giants from midfield, he saved one of them for the cup final.
And it was just as much a jubilant moment for Amorim as it was an embarrassing one for Nuno. With nine minutes on the clock, the new United boss set the ball out of his feet from long range and hit a tame pea-roller towards the Porto net.
Nuno, in getting down to make a simple save, somehow allowed the ball to squirm underneath him and trickle over the goal line. Amorim wheeled away in celebration while Nuno booted the ball back to the halfway line in frustration.
Ruben Amorim (right) was a staple of the Benfica midfield in 2010 (Image: Getty)
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It was an agonising moment for Nuno and a painful day on the whole, as Benfica pulled away to win 3-0 thanks to subsequent goals from Carlos Martins and Oscar Cardozo.
Nuno would naturally love to get his own back in his upcoming reunion with Amorim. Although their form has slipped in recent weeks, with defeats to , and United in their last four games, Forest sit seventh in the table after a brilliant start to the season.
United, for all the money they have thrown at players in recent transfer windows, are three points behind in 13th. Amorim has overseen four matches since replacing the sacked ; winning two, drawing one and losing another.
United’s 4-0 hammering of Everton at Old Trafford last weekend will have shown Forest that a trip to Manchester is not to be taken lightly. But three days later, the Red Devils were outclassed in every aspect when beat them 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.