The coach and his players are keen to return to action on Monday against Casa Pia AC

This Monday at the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting Clube de Portugal host Casa Pia AC on Liga Portugal Matchday 19. Coach Rúben Amorim was present at a pre-match press conference to preview the contest.

Starting by revealing that Geny Catamo is returning from the African Cup of Nations and, therefore, fit and in the squad, he turned his focus to the opposition.

"Casa Pia AC have changed the way they play. They now use a 4-4-2 and have similar dynamics to those used by Paulo Fonseca some time ago. They have a good identity, we can recognise well where the positions are, and they have quality. Just like how, in Chaves, we had to avoid crosses, in this one we will have to do that too, both from the fullbacks and the players between the lines. It's going to be a difficult game, but unfortunately we have had more time to work and we are prepared. We have to win to keep our place in the table," he told journalists.

Asked about the days following elimination from the Taça da Liga, Amorim admitted that it had been "a long week" and that "it seems like it has been a month between games."

"I feel that the team are still stuck in the last game, and only when the ball gets moving against Casa Pia AC will certain things disappear. We have never needed to get a game underway so much to get back on track. (...) We are feeling the defeat. There was a lot of silence afterwards, but we've been working well. I know the players are still thinking about the last game. I am the quickest in moving on to the next game and it was even hard for me, so imagine what it was like for the players. The team are very focused on what they are doing, but I feel like it was one of the defeats that has lingered the longest."

Asked about the impact a trophyless season would have on Sporting CP, Amorim responded that "I will leave of my own accord" at the end of the campaign if that were to happen.

"Two years in a row without winning silverware cannot happen at a big club like Sporting CP."

"In the game against SC Braga, they played very deep and took away our depth . Whether the other teams do the same thing or not depends on us. If we hit the post three times, if we send a shot wide in front of goal... if all this happens in another game, then the antidote to us has been found, which is the ball not going in."

Reinforcing his view that the current position in the top spot "doesn't say anything about what will happen until the end of the season," the coach also explained that, "due to the way they have been playing" and the fact that their fate is in their own hands, "Sporting CP can get the title if we work game by game."

Regarding the return home, he commented that, in Leiria, "it felt like a game at Alvalade."

"The stadium was full of Sportinguistas and we won't feel much of a difference. The applause for our team reflects the atmosphere of unity, but we have no illusions. We have to win the game, play well and have a good initial feeling. We can't wait to play, and it being in Alvalade is even better," he added.

Finally, Amorim commented on Iván Fresneda's situation.

"Fresneda did individual work and has already done some non-contact drill with us. I don't know for sure when he will return."