The coach's verdict on an 8-0 win over Casa Pia AC

After the 8-0 win against Casa Pia AC for Sporting CP, coach Rúben Amorim, spoke at a press conference to discuss the match.

“It was a victory that we needed, but it's only worth three points and to maintain our position at the top of the standings. The important thing is to feel that the team, even with a great result, never take our foot off the accelerator and we always want more," he began by telling journalists.

"I think that against SC Braga we played better than today, but today we managed to score the goals and that unlocked the game. We also didn't concede goals and, in addition, we controlled practically all of Casa Pia AC's attacks, without letting them create anything.”

Amorim considered that his side demonstrated the “mentality of a big club,” both through their constant offensive stance and through their response to the defeat against SC Braga in the semi-final of the Taça da Liga.

“Despite it being a difficult week, we saw growth in our mentality and in terms of what we have to feel, because every trophy we fail to achieve is a failure -which is also part of football. It was also a reflection of the fact that the players want to win and repay the fans for the way everyone applauded after we were eliminated from the Taça da Liga. We really want to win trophies for Sporting CP.”

“I like the direct way of playing more, as we always want more goals. At home we have to be strong. Especially at home, we have controlled the games and had the most of the ball," he highlighted, before outlining the improvements that have been felt in the team from season to season.

“We are maintaining our level, whether we are losing or winning, and we are maintaining our level of performance. We are improving a lot in attack, which is also because we have new characteristics and Viktor [Gyökeres] also gives us that (…). I think we have all evolved, both coach and players, and we have seen what kind of characteristics were missing. I feel like this is a team that want more, and are aware of what we want to do and the difficulties we will face in the season. We still have three competitions to win."

Asked about some individual players, Amorim acknowledged that Pedro Gonçalves “is still recovering from his foot problem”, explaining his substitution at half-time, which also served to “give others the opportunity to get on the pace."

"Ousmane Diomande has not been playing for so long for his national team, which is something that worries me, and Jeremiah St. Juste felt, while warming up against SC Braga, that he had a problem with his foot."

Finally, he looked to the upcoming game, away from home, and the mission against Famalicão.

"We have to do our job. We need to win the next game to stay in first place,” he concluded.