The coach looks at the final game of 2023

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to the Algarve for their last game of 2023, which takes place this Saturday at 8:30pm against Portimonense SC.

Ahead of the match, coach Rúben Amorim predicted a difficult encounter against Paulo Sérgio's men, currently 13th in Liga Portugal, highlighting the different tactics and players at their disposal.

“Portimonense SC are always a very difficult team to play, as their coach is very experienced and has perhaps the most difficult job in our league. He has always managed to keep the team in the Primeira Liga, even with many players having been sold. When we try to study Portimonense SC and look at the difference in the squad from one season to the next, the number of players that come from the Under-23s makes it very difficult to get an idea of the way they play,” the coach began by stating.

“We don't really know what we're going to find. Two weeks ago they played with three central defenders, then with four defenders and then back to three central defenders in the middle of the game. It's a dangerous match in which set pieces will be important; we'll have to find a way to get around that aspect with Gonçalo Inácio and Coates unavailable [due to suspension and injury, respectively]. It will be another competitive game, but we are prepared," he stressed.

Sporting CP will also be without the suspended Morten Hjulmand, but Amorim revealed that Daniel Bragança “has been training, is fit and is another option for the game."
He also considers that Sporting CP have more to lose against Portimonense SC.

“Big teams always have much more to lose than to gain. They have an obligation to win and play well. If Portimonense SC manage to break away with the ball several times, have set pieces and grow in the game, the goals they have conceded and the way they have played won't matter at all. We have to be prepared for that; we want to maintain our position in the table and to do that we just need to win -there is no need to look at anyone else. The objective is to win, and we have the same responsibility as always," he highlighted.

To conclude, Amorim was asked whether he believes that the second half of the season will be more favourable for Sporting CP in terms of away games, given that they have already played at home to SL Benfica, Vitória SC and SC Braga.

“I don’t see it like that. There is a stage in these coming months in which we will play away to Moreirense FC, who are having a great season, and then to Rio Ave FC. We don't know when we will drop points and the home games have not been easy at all. There will still be many changes in the league and many teams will drop points. We have to maintain the way we play and improve every day, because we have a lot to improve on. At big clubs it doesn't matter where you play, anything can happen."