Previewing the game against GD Chaves with the Sporting CP coach

Sporting Clube de Portugal will face GD Chaves this Monday, on Liga Portugal Matchday 21 On the eve of the match, coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference to talk about the meeting with a side 11th in the table.

“Above all, we have to be careful with transitions and score goals. In the home game, which ended 0-2, we had many opportunities in the first half but we didn't manage to score. Obviously, we have to play better than in the UEFA Europa League game last week if we are to win this game. We know it's a tough ground and that we are facing a team without pressure, whilst we have to win every game -especially with us not being in such good form," he began by telling journalists.

“We know the GD Chaves team well and expect a good performance. We have to get back to our way of playing ”, he stressed, before addressing Sporting CP's recent results.

“There are phases in football and what we have to do is play well. Against FC Porto we played well, but in the last game, not so much. There's a lot to take away from this game, looking at the tactical side in order to improve. The good thing about these weeks with three games is that we can win and get into that dynamic right away."

“I have learned that I can survive these phases. When we are winning we maybe miss some things, so this recent form makes us think about what we have to change: How we have to plan preseason, what changes to the formation we need to make, etc. Therefore, I would say that these phases are essential, and they will come in handy in the future, but we find them hard," he continued.

“We are going to grow with these phases and we are going to evolve, I will be a better coach and we will be a better team in the future."

“We have to look at the context of each game. We've always had the support of the Sportinguistas, now we're in fourth place and we have to accept that and play our role, and the fans will return to the stadium in droves as a result,” noted Amorim, who acknowledged that improvements can be made in terms of finishing chances.

“We can improve everything in games, but if we've been failing to achieve that, it's because the other teams have been doing well. We have recently had a sequence of games in which we scored five goals in one game, then six and then three. We live off goals and victories and we have conceded too many and scored too few for the chances we are creating. The previous game against GD Chaves was a reflection of that”, he recalled.

“We have to improve in terms of performance and, if something goes wrong in the game, we have to maintain our identity."

“When we score a goal, we improve our game a lot. Opponents have to open up a little more, we become more confident and from then on we are a completely different team. With GD Chaves we have to try to avoid their transitions, playing simpler after losing the ball in the buildup. Confidence comes from results, goals scored and not conceding goals."

In Chaves, Amorim will reach 100 games for Sporting CP in Liga Portugal, a number that leaves him satisfied.

“I feel like we've messed up the win average a bit lately, as it was really good before. For now, it is obviously a source of pride to be at as big a club as Sporting CP and reach 100 games. It's difficult to choose the best moment and I don't like to talk about it because it was so long ago, but becoming league champions brings fulfillment to any coach."