Sporting CP take on FC Midtjylland

This Thursday, Sporting Clube de Portugal's UEFA Europa League quest gets underway with a meeting with FC Midtjylland, in the first leg of the playoffs for the Round of 16. Coach Rúben Amorim talked about the game in his pre-match press conference.

"These games are always dangerous. The fact that our opponents have been out of action for several months could give Sporting CP an advantage," he said.

"We've had less time to prepare for the game, but competing with teams around us makes us grow. FC Midtjylland have a coach who always plays 4-3-3, and we won't be surprised by the way they play, but I see this as just another game. We gave a lot of tactical information to the players, but no extra motivation is needed - we're going to be prepared," he told journalists.

Regarding the objectives for the competition, the coach stated that "there are very strong teams in the UEFA Europa League and the Portuguese sides are never the main favourites."

"What we want is to win the next game. If I have this philosophy in the league, imagine what it's like in the UEFA Europa League. What I want is for the players to feel comfortable and play good football," he added.

Admitting "that this season has fallen short of our objectives and not even winning the UEFA Europa League will make up for Liga Portugal," Amorim went on to talk about young talent Youssef Chermiti.

"We've been renewing the young kids and we're working on that with Youssef. I'm not worried because we still have one more year left on our contract with him, and because players like Youssef or Mateus Fernandes know they'll have an opportunity here at Sporting CP. They grew up here and want to play here."

After revealing that Hidemasa Morita will remain sidelined, Amorim spoke about Ousmane Diomande.

"I believe that soon Diomande will have the opportunity to play in the starting lineup because he is doing very well and has adapted. It is not easy to come on when he did against FC Porto and use ball like he did. He's more than ready to play, he's very grown up."

In response to a question from a Danish journalist, the coach showed he was aware of the dangers of this Thursday's opponent.

"We have the advantage of being in midseason in our league, and FC Midtjylland were at a standstill. But they're a team that won 5-1 against SS Lazio, so we can't say we're obviously going to win clearly. It's going to be a tough game against a motivated team in the UEFA Europa League. I am confident, as always, that we will win the game."

Invited to comment on the fact that Czech footballer Jakub Jankto has come out as homosexual, Amorim showed his support and said that he considers that the topic is still "taboo" in the world of football.

"I have two kids, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow and it was something I wouldn't be ashamed of."

Sporting CP vs. FC Midtjylland is scheduled for 8pm this Thursday, February 16th, at Estádio José Alvalade.