The coach looks at the opening game of 2024

Sporting Clube de Portugal have their first game of 2024 on Friday against GD Estoril Praia, on Matchday 16 of the Liga Portugal season.

Previewing the match, coach Rúben Amorim talked about the excellent form the opponents are in, having turned around a bad start to the season and, now with Vasco Seabra in charge, having beat FC Porto twice, with six victories in their last eight games.

“GD Estoril Praia have scored four goals in several games and have not conceded, something we have had difficulties with. They are a team that haven't lost in four games, but it's not just their quality, results and confidence that we have to take into account. They are a young team and will feel comfortable at Alvalade because many of the players came up at big clubs. Furthermore, without the pressure of escaping the relegation zone, they will be breathing easier,” the coach began by saying at a press conference, continuing his analysis of the ninth-ranked side.

“They are a very well-organised  team, with a coach who has already demonstrated that he can do great work and win against big teams. We know all these details and that GD Estoril Praia have [Rafik] Guitane, who is one of the biggest difference makers. There are also kids in midfield with a lot of talent and the player with the most assists on the right flank [Rodrigo Gomes], who is playing as a winger in a formation similar to ours. All this information, the type of moves they like to make, how they play against the big sides and in other games and what difficulties and strengths they have, has all been given to the players. We will be prepared.”

He was then asked whether the unavailability of Hidemasa Morita and Ousmane Diomande, away on international duty, as well as the injured Sebastián Coates, Jeremiah St. Juste and Iván Fresneda.

“I don't worry, we can field a quality XI. We already knew about these absences and obviously we can't control injuries, but we are prepared and we have players able to win the game."

“St. Juste will be able to return to training this month, he is doing much better and is pain free. Seba is the closest to returning; he won't be there tomorrow but he could be in against CD Tondela. Fresneda will in theory return in February.”

Taking into account the needs of the squad, Rúben Amorim also discussed the possible use of 20-year-old central defender Rafael Pontelo, who was announced two days ago as a winter reinforcement.

“I'm not going to say who will start, but Rafael is in the squad and he's an option to play tomorrow. I'm not going to say what the lineup is because I'm not going to give anything away to Vasco Seabra," he stressed with a smile, adopting the same strategy in relation to Eduardo Quaresma.

“I'm not going to say if he's an option, but he's very strong in one-on-one duels. He has worked well and been kept fit, which is good,” he stated.

Rúben Amorim was also invited to comment on the evolution of Mateus Fernandes this season, a 19-year-old midfielder who is on loan to GD Estoril Praia from Sporting CP and has featured in 16 games.

“To start with, our idea was not to loan out Mateus, but as the preseason progressed I realized that he could only have a few minutes. I thought he had grown more than Dário [Essugo] and I had no doubts that he would go to a club and would impose himself with his personality. Either we could keep Mateus and protect ourselves from injuries, or we could take a bit of a risk and let him leave to grow and then return to Sporting CP. His growth is natural and, if he continues with this level of performance, I clearly see him staying at Sporting CP next year."