The coach's verdict on a 0-4 win against FC Paços de Ferreira

After a 0-4 win over FC Paços de Ferreira on Liga Portugal Matchday 31, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim explained that his side had been "more complete" in their showing than in the game against FC Famalicão.

“We said last week that we didn't have very long possessions and that took away our quality, because there were many transitions and missed passes. That wasn't the case in this game. We started very well, with a very good pace, and we created two opportunities right at the beginning of the game,” he began by saying, admitting that the way in which the first goal of the game arrived “made everything more difficult” for the opposition.

“However, we also caused this mistake. We removed some references for FC Paços de Ferreira to use, due to the way Bellerín sometimes played a little further back. We tried things that worked. The players were very serious, they want to evolve. What we did badly last week, we did well today. We were better at our decision-making, despite Marafona making some good saves. It was a complete showing and a fair victory.”

Asked about the impact of this result on the standings, after SC Braga's defeat away to SL Benfica, the coach said he is not throwing in the towel in the fight for third place.

“Dreaming is always possible, but it remains very tough. At the moment we are not even thinking about it, because it isn't only down to us. We have to do our job. Our focus is to improve from week to week,” underlined the coach, before stating that “when there is a good collective performance, the individual quality of the players comes to the fore."

"The team have evolved in the final months of the season. Although we had two draws that took away the chance of getting closer to fighting for other things in this last phase of the campaign, we have had a gradual growth with good performances. Now we have to win our games -we will do the maths at the end of the season. If we can cut the gap from four points to one point, we have to do it because that's our identity; we're a big club. If we fall, we have to do so with dignity and do our best until the end."

In closing, Amorim stressed that the team "have to think that the season starts now: Not this one but the next one."

 “We are finishing this season, but everything we do and improve now will bear fruit in the next campaign. Now we have to focus on the game against CS Marítimo, and everything we can do to win the next games, we will do it," he concluded.