The coach previews the fixture against CF Estrela da Amadora

Sporting Clube de Portugal will travel to the Estádio José Gomes at 8:30pm this Saturday, to face CF Estrela da Amadora in Liga Portugal. Coach Rui Borges gave his preview of the match ahead of the fixture.

Fotis Ioannidis and Luís Guilherme
"We hope very much and believe that they will return this season, both of them. I can't say their recovery time, but we believe they will return before the end of the season."

The match against CF Estrela da Amadora
"We expect a difficult type of game, given what this month has been like. After the demanding game we had against Arsenal, we're playing at a historically difficult ground for us, and against a team experiencing a tough end to the season and fighting for points. I have no doubt that it will be a hard game, but we have a lot to gain. We know we will have to fight hard to get the victory and it will be a very competitive game.

CF Estrela da Amadora are very strong on the counterattack, and they have fast, skillful players in the final third. Coach João Nuno, since he arrived, has been trying to get the team to have possession, a good dynamic and good ideas in the offensive process. They want to have the ball and play, but they are also a team that make many long passes to look for the attacking players who can decide games in one-on-one situations. They are very strong and tall, on a pitch that makes this aspect important. Within all this, we have to be committed, because if we are not, we will have even more difficulties. We want to win to continue fighting for our main objective."

A change of mindset after playing in the UEFA Champions League
"We need to focus the players as much as possible to get them ready for a different kind o game, but the difficulty of the game against CF Estrela da Amadora is huge. We have to make them realise that we are continuing on our own path and that the title is our main objective."

Objectives
"We really want to be champions and that is the main objective. In the UEFA Champions League, we know the greatness of the teams that are among the top eight -and the difficulty is even greater. We are not giving up on the UEFA Champions League, far from it, but the main objective is Liga Portugal."

Geovany Quenda
"He is in the squad."

Morten Hjulmand
"He's a great player, he's having a good season and he did well last season. He's important for Sporting CP and, given what the club are doing at a European level, it's natural that people talk about him and other players. It makes us happy because it's a sign of individual and collective recognition and that our work is being done well. Everyone is valued highly and I see it as natural; it's part of football. I'll be happy if he stays, but if not, someone valuable to Sporting CP will come in."

The title race
"FC Porto are in first place and, so far, they are the best team, but we are doing well and are confident. Everyone will face difficulties and tomorrow we have a tough away game, especially considering CF Estrela da Amadora's recent form, as they desperately need points and will give their all. We will do everything to get the three points."

Risk of suspensions in the defensive line
"Within our strategic management, we will try to field the best players to win without worrying about cards. It doesn't make sense to look further ahead and not win tomorrow. We'll see who we pick after that."

Squad management
"The players have accumulated many games, some with their national teams as well. We have to look at that aspect, as much as it is possible to understand their atigue. We have to understand how the players are and how they feel, because we are in a phase where we have to have everyone's energy at a maximum. Sometimes it's better to give your all for 30 minutes than to not be in top gear for 60 or 70 minutes. We will certainly look at that, and we have to be attentive to that."

The fans
"We are all on the same path, with energy, will, focus, objective and purpose. It's natural that they get excited about the UEFA Champions League games, just like us, because they are different games and between the best in Europe. Being among those teams makes us very happy and we will give our all in those games"

Souleymane Faye
"He arrived in January, at a time when the team were already consolidated, and there hasn't been much time to train him up. He's come in from a completely different context, and he will have his adaptation and growth to make. We have to be patient and give him time."

Rafael Nel
"He's responding well. He's been giving us a lot and growing every day."

Unavailable players
"Fotis Ioannidis, Luís Guilherme and Nuno Santos will not be playing. João Simões is a doubt."