The coach looks at a Sunday meeting with FC Paços de Ferreira

Sporting Clube de Portugal play FC Paços de Ferreira away from home on Matchday 31 of the Liga Portugal season. Before the action got underway, coach Rúben Amorim talked to the media in his pre-match press conference.

“We know that FC Paços de Ferreira are fighting for survival, and when human beings fight for survival, they transcend what they are capable of. We have to do the same and look at the last two games, where we won and conceded just one goal," he explained.

"We shouldn't have suffered in those games and there's a lot to improve in that sense. It's a shame, because of the way that the table is, that there are only four more games to play, because there's a lot to improve and more games would allow us to prepare for the future more quickly. We want to win and not concede goals.”

“They are a team that take a lot of risks in their buildup play, their coach, César Peixoto, is used to big clubs and is transmitting that idea at FC Paços de Ferreira. We have to be brave and strong in our pressing to steal balls early on, as well as being careful with talented one-on-one players like Nigel Thomas. Gaitán also still has quality, despite having less pace than before. We have to be strong because they play well and we have to compensate because we play with two in midfield and they play with three. We analysed the game as if it were against Arsenal or Juventus; that's how we have to look at all the games," pointed out Amorim.

The coach also sees the game as another opportunity for the team to evolve and take steps forward.

“Looking at the last game, we have to have longer spells of possession and hurt the opposition more. We allowed FC Famalicão many transitions and, therefore, we have aspects to improve. But seeing the quality of FC Paços de Ferreira, it's a game that we have to win. We have this obligation and we will try to do that."

Asked about what remains of Sporting CP's season and what could change in the remaining games, Amorim ruled out that the derby against SL Benfica in two matchdays' time could be a lifeline.

“The image given by Sporting CP this season is one of little consistency. It will never be remembered as us being a team that didn't play good football or a team that scored few goals - we're about to pass the 100 barrier - but we weren't consistent and in key moments we couldn't turn the situation around. We weren't good enough this season. We live off trophies and not on victories, and our objective is to improve so that next year we can fight for silverware. We have to win every game until the end of the season and we have that obligation against anyone. Winning the Europa League wasn't going to change the way you look at the season and winning against SL Benfica won't change anything. Our obligation is to win our games, especially at home."

The game against Paços de Ferreira will mark the return of Paulinho, with the coach confirming that “He will be in the squad and will be able to play for a few minutes. As for Pedro Gonçalves, he's fine, he came off against FC Famalicão because I thought he was tired, perhaps mentally, and had few ideas. But he wants to score more goals and make more assists and he is another option for tomorrow."

Finally, he talked about the young players who have been brought up from the youth team this season.

“We are proving that we call up a lot of players when they need to come through. The objective is always to win trophies, regardless of whether there is a youth system in place or not, but it is very obvious that the project involves homegrown players achieving objectives and winning titles."

Sporting CP's trip to FC Paços de Ferreira will take place this Sunday, with kickoff at 8.30pm at the Estádio Capital do Móvel.

The coach reacts to the 2-1 win over FC Famalicão

After the final whistle in the game against FC Famalicão, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim, analysed the victory in a press conference.

"We could and should have done several things differently. It was not our best game: We ran a lot, but often badly, because we wanted to press across the whole pitch and we suffered with their long balls," he began by telling journalists present at the Estádio José Alvalade.

“Above all, we weren't able to settle our play down like we usually do, and that can be seen in the possession statistic of 55%-45%. In the first half, when play opened up, we either had the ball behind us or we made the wrong decision. We had little inspiration and scored a goal without doing much for it. We were leading at half-time without allowing many opportunities to the opposition, besides the great save by Adán."

"In the second half we started better, we scored a goal and in a phase in which we really settled in, we lost a ball without pressure on us and everything got a bit more difficult. I think it was a fair victory for a team that have to be better playing at home," he assessed.

"You have games that are like that. We have been very consistent in our performance and sometimes not so much in terms of results, and today it was the opposite, because we won. There's a lot to improve."

Amorim related this to a wider point, stating: "As much as we are told that it was the lack of goals that hindered us this season, I think there were more important things that limited us. We also lost important players, there's no hiding that, but it doesn't explain it all. There were games in which we dominated and what was lacking was consistency, and that is what we have to take into the next season. This game does not sum up the season in general."

Afterwards, the coach explained his decision to replace Pedro Gonçalves on 55 minutes.

"He's such a consistent player and that even if he's not playing well he can still change games, but I thought that today's performance wasn't up to that and he also needed a rest. He seemed tired, without imagination, without explosion. I didn't take him off at half-time because I wanted to leave him on a little longer. For example, I felt that Trincão was growing into the game and Youssef [Chermiti] gave us depth."

Asked about the four players who are still sidelined through injury, Amorim said that "Daniel Bragança won't play again this season, as we're not taking any chances with him, but I think we'll have some time for him to get back into the group and that's great news. So many times I left him out when he had played and trained well, he suffered some bad luck and I was without him for almost a year -and I missed him a lot. Paulinho will be able to play this season, but as for St. Juste and Jovane I would say they won't."

Talking about Ricardo Esgaio, who scored his first ever goal for the Sporting CP first team and was named Man of the Match, the coach expressed his pleasure with the showing.

"He did his job. I defend him because I think he has the quality to play for Sporting CP. He has different characteristics and, to see what football is like, he kept up with a player who is a phenomenon in his position. Now, every time we hear news about [Pedro] Porro, it seems that they are talking about Esgaio in England. That's how football is. Today he played a normal game for him and we are trying to find his position in the rotation with Marcus, with him playing lower. He helped the team, he deserves it and only those who work like he does are able to recover the way he did."

Finally, Rúben Amorim also addressed the progress made by Hidemasa Morita, scorer of the other goal against FC Famalicão.

"Morita is perhaps the best at playing with both feet in the buildup. He is very good between the lines, appearing in the spaces and holding the ball. Matheus [Nunes] came off and he adapted very well to the position. If we look, everyone around the strikers are scoring many more goals than usual, and we'll see if that helps the strikers, because I also think we will improve in that respect," he concluded.

Sporting CP vanquish FC Famalicão on Matchday 30

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat FC Famalicão 2-1 on Matchday 30 of the Liga Portugal season, returning to winning ways at home with goals for Hidemasa Morita and Ricardo Esgaio.

Their opponents arrived in Alvalade after three consecutive victories in the league and in seventh place, chasing a place in the Top 6.

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim made only two changes from the win over Vitória SC in Guimarães, bringing in Gonçalo Inácio and Francisco Trincão in place of Matheus Reis and Youssef Chermiti. The opposition coach João Pedro Sousa, meanwhile, made eight adjustments -having played in the semi-final of the Portuguese Cup against FC Porto in midweek.

Nuno Santos created the first attacks against an FC Famalicão side that used a high defensive line and competed for possession.

A move by Marcus Edwards was finished off by Hidemasa Morita in the 18th minute, opening the scoring early on. The English winger entered the area and set up the midfielder, who was quick and accurate to score his sixth goal of the season.

After half an hour, FC Famalicão responded with a cross and low shot by Colombatto, which was saved by Antonio Adán. Sporting CP kept the match under control and also produced rapid transitions and dead ball situations, only lacking in finishing -such as when Pedro Gonçalves was unable to convert a one-on-one with the goalkeeper in stoppage time.

Upon the restart, Nuno Santos again initiated the attacks, and this time it was goalkeeper Luiz Júnior who prevented his cross from finding Morita.

Matheus Reis and Youssef Chermiti came on in the 55th minute as replacements for Ousmane Diomande and Gonçalves. Shortly after, Nuno Santos poked a ball just off target as Sporting CP continued to pursue a second goal.

They made it 2-0 off a well-crafted attack and a cross-shot by Edwards, blocked by Luiz Júnior but finished off on the rebound by Ricardo Esgaio. It was the right winger's first time for the first team, and extended the advantage to a more comfortable one.

Trincão dummied two opposition players and allowed Edwards to strike off target, and on the following move he set up Chermiti, who failed to reach the pass, in two good attacks.

FC Famalicão became more ambitious and took the score to 2-1, benefiting from an interception from Sebastián Coates that, unfortunately, ended up in an own goal.

At the start of the last 15 minutes, Mateo Tanlongo came on for Manuel Ugarte. The game became lively with a chance for Chermiti and then, in the 77th minute, Cádiz forcing a huge save from Adán.

Héctor Bellerín -introduced late on- forced a save from Luiz Júnior and Nuno Santos also tried his luck, but the score remained 2-1 and Sporting CP took a home victory.

Next up, they visit FC Paços de Ferreira on Matchday 31.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio (Héctor Bellerín, 82’), Ousmane Diomande (Matheus Reis, 55’), Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte (Mateo Tanlongo, 73’), Hidemasa Morita, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves (Youssef Chermiti, 55’) and Francisco Trincão (Arthur Gomes, 82’).

The players get ready for the match against FC Famalicão

With the focus on continuing their recent run of victories in Liga Portugal, Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to training this Thursday at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, starting preparations for the game against FC Famalicão. The kick-off of the Matchday 30 game is scheduled for 8:30pm this Sunday at the Estádio José Alvalade.

During the morning session, Jovane Cabral, Daniel Bragança, Paulinho and Jeremiah St. Juste continued with the Medical Department.

The squad train again on Friday at 10:30am, behind closed doors, in Alcochete.

The coach's reaction to the win over Vitória SC

Rúben Amorim was satisfied with the win away against Vitória SC, but picked out aspects to improve from the performance.

“The team were solid, but the speed in the first half was quite slow. Even so, we handled things and created a few chances. In the second half it was different: We created more, we stretched Vitória SC more and then their fatigue started to give us more space. Obviously, the goal helped. We were very secure, we controlled things well and when we increased the tempo we controlled the game even better," he began by saying
.
“We know the moment the players are in. Congratulations to them, as they didn't concede today."

“Obviously the players feel pressure of the form we're in, and there's no escaping that, but we have to fight. This season will be over at some point and they know that what they do now will count for the next one. That's a method I have to motivate them, reminding them that they are lucky to be here. No one here has given up or is desolate. We can be angry and frustrated and I know the weight they have on their shoulders, but when you win games, even if you don't have your objectives close, the feeling is positive," Amorim continued.

"There is nothing better than a player feeling that they did everything to win, whether in training or in a game. I know it's difficult to motivate players like that, but we have a lot to gain from playing well and continuing to be the team we are."

The coach, who watched the game from the stands due to suspension, added that "It's always harder to be away from the dugout. I experience the game with more stress."

Sporting CP win against Vitória SC with goals from Gonçalves and Gomes

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Vitória SC 0-2 in a Monday night fixture on Matchday 29 of the Liga Portugal season, played at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães.

Rúben Amorim – absent from the dugout due to suspension – chose a starting XI of Antonio Adán, Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards , Youssef Chermiti and Pedro Gonçalves.

Sporting CP had the first opportunity in the fifth minute through Ousmane Diomande, but goalkeeper Celton Biai held onto his effort. Minutes later, Hidemasa Morita also had a shot, but the ball went over the crossbar.

In the 23rd minute, Ricardo Esgaio had a strike off Nuno Santos' delivery from the left, but Mikel Villanueva intercepted at the right time and prevented Celton Biai from having to make much of a stretch.

The home team let Sporting CP have the ball, only threatening with a long-range shot by Janvier, following a corner, which went wide of Antonio Adán's goal.

In first half stoppage time, Vitória SC had a goal disallowed for offside by André Silva, and the game reached the interval 0-0.

Sporting CP got their opening goal early in the second half. Hidemasa Morita took advantage of a mistake and handed the ball over to Pedro Gonçalves, who spun and shot past Biai.

Os Leões became more aggressive and dangerous than in the first half, with Gonçalves immediately having the opportunity to score a second off a cross from the right to the back post -which he was not quite able to turn in.

Youssef Chermiti had a good chance after entering the area on the right channel, but Biai twice got the better of him, and two minutes later a cross from Nuno Santos was scuffed by Gonçalves.

Coming into the last 20 minutes of the match, Chermiti was replaced by Francisco Trincão, who just five minutes later recovered the ball in the middle of the park and laid it off to Gonçalves. Tounkara managed to arrive in time to cut out the chance.

Gonçalves and Matheus Reis went off for Arthur Gomes and Gonçalo Inácio for the final ten minutes.

Trincão forced Celton Biai to make a huge save and then Sebastián Coates seemingly made it 0-2, but his goal ended up being disallowed for offside.

Sporting CP finally got what they were looking for in stoppage time, as Adán's long pass found Arthur Gomes. He got into the box and shot on goal, with Celton Biai letting the ball bounce between his hands and into the net.

A comfortable 0-2 win keeps Os Leões on track, ahead of a Sunday game at home against FC Famalicão.

The coach looks ahead to the meeting with Vitória SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, home of Vitória SC, this Monday, to on Liga Portugal Matchday 29.

Ahead of the game, coach Rúben Amorim acknowledged that there was "disappointment" about the elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Juventus, but assured that the players "know what they have to do and are prepared for the game."

“The atmosphere in the dressing room is fine. Obviously we are very disappointed, but we played very well. Whether we're fourth or first in the table, there's work to do and a way to play. We're going to play that way tomorrow and I'm sure we're going to perform well," he began by saying.

“We are having more difficulties in getting the right results, but if we look at the last few games we have always played well and created chances. We have to improve our effectiveness. The group know that, we have work to do and we will do it well. The objective is to win all the games that remain until the end of the season."

“We'll have to push hard to see what happens at the end of the campaign, with our focus on the league now."

Amorim then assessed Vitória SC, a team who are seventh in the table and in the fight for European football next season.

“They are a team in need of points. Their coach is doing a great job. He is achieving results with young players from the youth team and this will be a very dangerous game; everyone knows what it is like to play in Guimarães."

Amorim will not be in the dugout due to a suspension for his expulsion against FC Arouca.

“I would love to be in this game accompanying the players, but it was my fault that I can't be there. They know that I'm always with them. I have to think about them and at this stage I should be pitchside, but we have prepared the game well. They know what to do and we're going to be strong in this game."

“The focus is on scoring goals and not conceding from the few opportunities we concede. Winning should be enough motivation. The 'all or nothing' game, for us, was with GD Chaves at home, as we were already five points off the top. It's been all or nothing for a long time now and that's one of the big problems. But that won't get into the minds of the players. They want to win every game, as they have wanted to up until now."

The coach analyses the Europa League elimination at the hands of Juventus

After the 1-1 draw that led to Sporting Clube de Portugal's exit from the Europa League, coach Rúben Amorim reflected on the campaign and the aggregate loss to Juventus.

"During the match, I think we were the better team. There were some periods, maybe at the beginning of the second half, where we lost control a bit and Juventus had more of the ball, but then we took over again," he explained in his post-match press conference.

"Here and there, we showed some anxiety and could have created even more chances. Proof of that were the final two balls we played, where we needed to be calm again to take the ball to the right place. We were clearly the better side, but those small details make a lot of difference," he said.

"We clearly had opportunities to turn the situation around. It's frustrating to go out like this because I think we were the better team. Now we have to focus on the next game."
The coach considered the tie to be different overall to the previous round, which saw Sporting CP eliminate Arsenal.

"With Arsenal I think we suffered a lot here and we were lucky to always be in the game in London, but this tie was different. We were always in control of the game, there were few opportunities for Juventus and several for Sporting CP, but in key moments we were inferior and that's what counts. We have to be angry about that."

Afterwards, when questioned about whether playing another striker would have aided the team, Amorim replied that "it is a much bigger issue than the question of a striker playing": "'Pote' could have scored, Esgaio too. It's not just the strikers who score goals. Coates has saved us several times, especially in the year that we won the league title, and there were opportunities. The last few games have been like this, and I can't say that if there was a striker or another striker that we would have won. We don't know that."

"We have worked a lot more on finishing this year, but there are things in football that I can't explain. It sums up the season. Sporting CP have had some of the best strikers going, like Liedson, Derlei and Slimani, and they didn't win trophies. We may have lacked a striker here or there, but it's too simple an idea."

Amorim also thanked the more than 45,000 Sporting CP fans who came out to the Estádio José Alvalade.

"It was the best atmosphere I've experienced at home here. I'm sure that with a team with this talent, with this atmosphere in the stadium, few teams can come here and win."

"We still have a goal, which is very difficult, but there are six games to go -six games to win. The club demand that, but we cannot hide that we have a difficult end to the season. There are seasons that are like that and we have to prepare for the future," he explained, noting: "Despite the results not being the best, there is a clear evolution from the players in theit ability to fight against the best. We know where we have gone wrong, we have to improve in these details and I think it will make the difference in the future."

"Sporting CP have a great future ahead. We young players, we manage to sell, we have visibility in Europe and have had the best financial results in history. We maybe haven't achieved the minimum results expected this year, but that's down to the coach. The rest is here."

Sporting CP bow out of the Europa League despite a 1-1 draw with Juventus

A 1-1 draw at the Estádio José Alvalade was not quite enough for Sporting Clube de Portugal to progress to the UEFA Europa League semifinals, as they were eliminated 1-2 on aggregate by Juventus. An early goal conceded on the night, followed by a Marcus Edwards penalty, kept the tie intense until the final whistle.

Coach Rúben Amorim made four changes in relation from the previous weekend's game against Arouca FC: Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Hidemasa Morita and Edwards (returning from a virus) were starters in the places of Matheus Reis, Héctor Bellerín, Arthur Gomes and Youssef Chermiti. Compared to the first leg there were only two changes: Diomande replacing the injured Jeremiah St. Juste and Chermiti moving to the bench to make way for an attacking trio consisting of Pedro Gonçalves, Edwards and Trincão.

Spurred on by a full house at the stadium, it was Sporting CP who took the initiative. Their first attack came from a corner, from which Sebastián Coates headed over, but Juventus responded in kind and with more success: In the ninth minute, Adrien Rabiot finished off the visitors' first opportunity inside the area to make it 0-1 on the night.

The reaction was almost immediate. After a sprint by Edwards that ended with a shot hitting the post, Manuel Ugarte was fouled in the penalty area on the rebound. Edwards stepped up to take the penalty and took the score back all square, converting from the spot.

Shortly afterwards, on a counter-attack, Ugarte shot over the bar, before a series of corners that included Diomande heading off target.

The match was back and forth, but it was Sporting CP who had the last chance of the first half. Nuno Santos' low cross was intercepted at the last minute, somehow without any deflection towards Wojciech Szczęsny's goal.

After the interval there was a more daring and dangerous Juventus trying to kill off the tie. Striker Dušan Vlahović was unable to finish off an opportunity from close range for the Italian side, then Diomande appeared in the right place to block a shot.

Gonçalves had an effort from outside the area and Esgaio broke into the box and shot over, as the intensity increased and the tide turned in Sporting CP's favour. At the start of the last ten minutes, Amorim brought on Matheus Reis and Chermiti, followed by Arthur Gomes, in a final roll of the dice.

Several balls into the area found Coates in a position to strike, but without success. Sporting CP were reduced to ten men before the end, when Edwards received a second booking for simulation, but nothing would change on the scoreboard and, despite a valiant performance, the team's European journey came to an end.

Next up, on Monday at 8:15pm local time, Sporting CP travel to Vitória SC in Liga Portugal.
 
Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio, Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 81’), Nuno Santos (Arthur Gomes, 87’), Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão (Youssef Chermiti, 81’).

The Sporting CP coach speaks ahead of the second leg against Juventus

This Thursday, Sporting Clube de Portugal host Juventus FC in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final. The Italian team hold a one-goal advantage after winning the first leg, but the tie remains open and coach Rúben Amorim believes in his team's chances of moving on to the next stage.

"Our team have already demonstrated that we excel in these games, that we are daring and consistent. We are strong and we had a good feeling in the game in Turin, in which we created several opportunities, controlled Juventus' strengths, but just weren't as effective as they were and that made the difference. The players know that this game will be different from last week, because there are different details, and that we have to be smart. We know that we have 90 minutes in which to manage things, equalise and turn around the tie", he began by saying, in his pre-match press conference.

"We believe we will go through, although we know it will be difficult, but we have the ability to turn around the tie -whether that be in extra time or penalties".

Asked if this was the most important game of the season for Sporting CP, he replied: "I don't know if it is or not. Let's imagine we make it through: The most important game would be the next one. If we get to the final, it would be the final that was the most important. What I do know is the feeling we have, and the fact that the stadium was sold out in such a short time gives the feeling that this is a decisive moment in our season. But we do well in these moments, it is a defining moment and I feel that we are prepared and that we are going to give a good response", he added.

"Juventus are full of good players. If you change two of their players, it changes the team's way of playing, but we are prepared for several scenarios. We have to be prepared and be effective up front and in defence, to have a chance of going through".

"We will always need some heroism to move forward, but we will need to be consistent and effective more than that. I know that if we do our job in the best way in all positions and situations, we will be able to overcome Juventus".

Amorim revealed one of his starters for the game: Ousmane Diomande.

"We maintain confidence in him and he will continue to start, that's the only thing I'm going to say," he commented, also justifying why he sometimes sends Sebastián Coates forward when looking for goals: "He's our best header of the ball and, in certain games, it comes in very handy have him up front".

The coach also spoke of his team's form.

"The oscillation in performances is not as great as it was at the beginning of the season, but there is variability in the results. We started the season very badly and we were playing catch-up. Whenever we had a chance to get closer we drew, with almost no chances against us and having many in favour, and that caused frustration. Our start to the campaign ha a very big impact".