The coach's preview of the game against Casa Pia AC

This Thursday, Rúben Amorim previewed the Liga Portugal match against Casa Pia AC, which is scheduled for Friday at 8:15pm, at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior. The coach praised the opposing team, but believes that his side can take a good result away.

“Casa Pia AC are a very well organised team, with processes that have been used for some time and an excellent coach who has managed to bring quality and transmit stability to the team. They believe a lot in the process and you can see that, and that's why they concede few goals. Looking at their game against SC Farense, we realise that they are a team that, despite having only been in the top flight for a year, manage to control the moments well and do not feel anxious at all. Therefore, I foresee a very difficult game in which we will have to control their transitions well -which we had problems with last year and in the first game- but we are prepared. We know how Casa Pia AC play and we have studied all their movements in detail”, he began by saying.

“I expect a competitive game, but I also expect a victory for Sporting CP”, he underlined, commenting on what happened on Matchday 1 of Liga Portugal.

“The season will be quite difficult. We have already seen that how you start is very important, but there are no easy games and in the first round of matches there is always a lot of anxiety".

Without saying who will play this Friday, Amorim revealed that Morten Hjulmand has been called up and that "he is ready to be an option”.

“He was called up and tomorrow we'll see if he'll play. He has completely different characteristics from other midfielders and complements all the others very well. He's another option to help in a season that will be long and we couldn't be more satisfied with all the players we have for the midfield: Players with completely different characteristics, but all with their own quality”.

Amorim also spoke about the renewals of Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos and Gonçalo Inácio.

“There was so much talk that they were going to leave, but they are mainstays at Sporting CP. They like being here, the atmosphere is very good and we have given preference to the renewal of important players. I couldn't be more satisfied, but they have to keep working to remain an option for us”.

Asked about the enthusiasm that Sportinguistas have shown for this season, the coach commented that it does not bring greater pressure.

“I think this is what should be normality at Sporting CP. There was some division before, but we are bringing everyone together and good results are the best fuel for a club to unite. Despite the fact that last season was less successful, we can see that the club have a direction, are growing in training players and in our structure. Sportinguistas, when they see a path, manage to stick together. The fans are behind the team and we have to respond. What I feel, even after last season, is a lot of support from the fans and I think that happens because they see that there is a way that we are going”.