"It's always nice to have fans close to us," says the forward

Rochinha and Paulinho took part in an autograph session at Suits Inc, sponsor of Sporting Clube de Portugal, on Monday afternoon. The pair had the opportunity to meet Sportinguistas after training.

“It is always good to have the fans close to us and also to realise how much they love the club. This is even more important when we aren't in the position where we want to be in the league," said Paulinho to journalists after the signing session, saying: “I feel a lot of affection at Sporting CP."

“We have to work hard and run a lot. That has to be present in every game and, as we have seen in the last few, when we do that, we will also have a moment to wear one of these suits for a celebration."

Asked about the pause in domestic action for the World Cup, Paulinho commented that “This break is a novelty because it's the first time it's happened, but it could be good because we have more time to train. We had been growing, but we are going to take advantage of this break to improve and continue to grow."

“We are working hard. There's no Liga Portugal games, but we have the Taça da Liga and we have to win. It's strange that we're not all here and there's a competition like the World Cup going on, but we have to continue with our work."

The striker has two goals and three assists in 2022/2023, and assessed what he is lacking this term.

“I feel that I can improve, but above all I hope the season will get better for Sporting CP. That's what I'm focused on; I don't care about the individual aspect, and neither do my teammates. We know that we are better as players when the team are doing better, and we also know that Sporting CP have to do well. Individual accolades are an extra."

Capped by Portugal, Paulinho was in national team coach Fernando Santos's initial shortlist for the World Cup but ended up being left out of the squad.

“We would all like to be there, but the important thing now is that we are all supporting the team. Will I give my all to play in the European Championships? I have to go all-in in the next game for Sporting CP. It will be my work here that will give me the opportunity to go or not."

The coach's verdict on the win over FC Famalicão

After a 1-2 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal away to FC Famalicão, coach Rúben Amorim thanked the fans for making the trip to watch the game.

"The way they support us is different, in a good way. We really appreciate their support and it will help us in the future. We will get back to being as competitive as we were before, and we are taking steps towards that," he told journalists in his post-match press conference.

"It was a fair victory. We started well, dominating and controlling the transitions. We could and should have scored more goals. We mixed up our movement of the ball a little and that's when the goals came. We went into the break winning deservedly and were looking for the third goal, but we weren't as agile in looking for positions or as quick to change switch flanks. We conceded, and from there it was a question of maintaining the scoreline until the game ended," he said, admitting that the team "needed this victory a lot."

"Big teams live off consistency. It's the result that counts, so winning is relevant in improving the team's performance. We have not been consistent in our results, but we have been in our performances, and today we brought the two things together. In the second half we didn't have the same speed, which was dangerous. We had several chances for a third goal and, from the moment they made it 1-2 onwards, things switched. FC Famalicão started to have more of the ball and to launch it into the area. It was a very important victory. Moving up the table is important, as we are far off our targets and we know it."

Finally, the coach commented on the work that will be done during the break for the World Cup.

"My feeling today was that maybe we shouldn't stop. Two weeks ago, when we were in a more difficult moment, we needed a break. The break will be important for players like Sotiris Alexandropoulos, Jeremiah St. Juste, Dário Essugo and Mateus Fernandes. We will have more time to do what we have been doing all year: Work with scouting and prepare the future of Sporting CP. This victory is good for us to face the break with optimism," he stated.

A 1-2 victory on a rainy night signs things off well

Sporting Clube de Portugal took a 1-2 away win over FC Famalicão on Matchday 13 of the Liga Portugal season.

In the last game before the break for the World Cup, Rúben Amorim made two changes to his starting lineups, bringing in Jeremiah St. Juste and Francisco Trincão at the expense of Flávio Nazinho and Arthur Gomes.

On a rainy night at the Estádio Municipal de Famalicão, Sporting CP went after a goal early. Gonçalo Inácio fired a first warning with a shot from distance,  but it was in the fourth minute that the team enjoyed their first chance on target: Set up by Pedro Porro, Paulinho shot with his left foot to force a save from goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.

On the 10 minute mark, an even bigger chance came their way. After Jeremiah St. Juste put the ball in the area, Trincão struck an effort against the post. Shortly after, both Pedro Gonçalves and  Trincão gave Luiz Júnior problems.

Hidemasa Morita then played through to Pedro Gonçalves and the latter, with a great feint, put himself in a good position to shoot, but Luiz Júnior parried out for a corner.

Responding to this phase of pressure from Sporting CP, FC Famalicão responded and began to stifle the momentum by packing the midfield.

The deadlock would finally be broken in the 42nd minute. A mistake by the home team's defence caused the ball to reach Paulinho, and the forward took a curling shot towards goal. Trincão got a touch to it, and was officially awarded the goal by Liga Portugal.

When it looked as if the score would remain 0-1 at the interval, Trincão tried a cross in that was blocked by Rúben Lima with his arm, and Sporting CP were awarded a penalty.

Gonçalves stepped up to score his seventh goal in 2022/23, making it 0-2.

The intensity of the rain increased in the second half, affecting the condition of the playing surface in the process.

FC Famalicão could have reduced the gap in the opening moments, when Jhonder Cádiz tried to score from a header, but Antonio Adán collected safely.

In the 59th minute, Matheus Reis made way for Arthur Gomes, who had an immediate chance with a counterattack that ended with a shot going slightly wide. Off the corner kick that followed, Morita managed to put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

With 20 minutes to go, and after a shot by Paulinho had been parried away by Luiz Júnior, Marcus Edwards came on for Trincão.

FC Famalicão reduced the deficit through Iván Jaime, who scored with an acrobatic shot that deflected off Jeremiah St. Juste to trick Antonio Adán.

The home team began to put more and more pressure on Sporting CP's area, and in the 85th minute only a huge header from Inácio prevented an equaliser.

Sporting CP held on for a 1-2 win. Their next game will be on November 30th, when they host SC Farense in the first round of the Taça da Liga group stage.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Hidemasa Morita, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Reis (Arthur Gomes, 59'), Francisco Trincão (Marcus Edwards, 70'), Pedro Gonçalves e Paulinho (Ricardo Esgaio, 80').

The coach looks ahead to the visit to FC Famalicão

Sporting Clube de Portugal will visit FC Famalicão this Sunday in Liga Portugal action, and coach Rúben Amorim gave a pre-match press conference ahead of the game.

He began by addressing the importance of winning before the break for the World Cup.

"The break will be long and that means it is very important to win this game. We had already felt that with the game against Boavista FC, when we were on a good streak and lost before the international break, which took away some joy. It's an important, difficult game at a stadium where we still haven't won since I became coach," he explained.

"FC Famalicão are a team full of talent, as always. It takes some time to create a connection between new players, which is normal. We are prepared for the game, we have trained very well and we had a long week. We will, for sure, have an excellent game."

"We've paid a lot of attention to the characteristics of the players they have up front, their fullbacks and the players in the middle, whose speed is very important. They are a dangerous team and their coach only has one or two defeats. We need to win and to be consistent in every aspect: Not conceding, being good at set pieces, scoring goals and winning the game."

No Sporting CP players have been called up by Portuguese national team coach Fernando Santos, for the World Cup. Amorim commented on this that “the choices are always difficult."

"The coach thankfully has a lot of players to choose from. It's difficult to take a player out to put one of ours in, just as it would be difficult to take one of our players out to put in those from other teams. The team's form didn't help them. That's also important."

"We're going to make the most of the time to train. The players always believe that they are going to get called up, but they are intelligent. Of course they had hope, but they have to take it naturally. It must also be said that if players like Gonçalo Inácio or Pedro Gonçalves were in the squad no one would be shocked by that, because they have the talent to be there. The choice was made and we have to take it in our stride."

Amorim continued by saying that “Sporting CP, today, works much better than when we were unbeaten champions and with many players from the academy. The squads and our ideas are increasingly structured, and we have increasingly younger players on the B team. The most important thing is not to have players in the A team, because that is a coach's choice and we have quality players for the A team. That doesn't have to interfere with what we think we are doing well. What worries me the most is [Eduardo] Quaresma, who started out at Sporting CP, not being able to start at CD Tondela. This is a very big concern for me. [Gonçalo] Esteves played in the starting lineup for Sporting CP, and he can't do that for GD Estoril Praia. That's the big concern we have to have. I tell the Sportinguistas that we are working hard and we have a plan. Whether they are called up to the national team or not is no longer in our hands."

Asked about Francisco Trincão's form, he said that "Trincao is at 50% and it is more a mental issue. He can't rush, and he has to understand that he will read the game and the team better and things will come. When Trincao is mentally looser and more confident, he will be a great player. He trains very well and is getting better. Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Edwards also needed time."

Finally, Amorim confirmed the absences of Nuno Santos, Luís Neto and Daniel Bragança, who are still recovering from their injuries, for the game.

The players are joined by two youth team members for training

With this Sunday's away trip to play FC Famalicão on the horizon, Sporting Clube de Portugal held a training session this Wednesday, in preparation for the Liga Portugal Matchday 13 game.

The workout, which took place at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete, saw coach Rúben Amorim call up youngsters Diogo Travassos and Renato Veiga to participate. Daniel Bragança, Luís Neto and Nuno Santos continue to work alongside the medical department to recover from their respective injuries.

The squad return to training on Friday at 10:30am, behind closed doors.

The two teams will square off across a two-legged tie in February 2023

Sporting Clube de Portugal will face FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League playoffs, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.

The draw was held this Monday in Nyon, Switzerland. Sporting CP will play the first leg at home on February 16th, 2023, then travel to Denmark on February 23rd for the reverse fixture.

Sporting CP and FC Midtjylland have met twice in official competition, both in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 2001/2002. Os Leões won the first leg 0-3 in Denmark, and also won at the Estádio José Alvalade, 3-2.

The coach reviews a 3-0 win over Vitória SC

Rúben Amorim expressed his satisfaction with the 3-0 triumph over Vitória SC, saying that Sporting CP could even have established a more comprehensive scoreline.

“We started well, with confidence and had chances, but without scoring. When they went down to ten men, we were sharper and the goal came. Then we became more confident and could have scored even more goals," he said in his post-match press conference.

"It was a fair victory, with no goals conceded this time. At other times we didn't let our opponents create many opportunities either, but we suffered. We picked up three points and now we must continue."

On the fans, he commented that “There was no anxiety in the stadium; there was support. After a defeat that was tough to swallow, having this support from the fans made it feel like we weren't in sixth place in the table. This was very important for the players. The fans felt the team's dip in form, the players felt it and I myself felt at the beginning of the game that there weren't many anxious fans, but rather people wanting to help the team."

“The importance of winning is always big. Everyone wanted to win, we knew the importance that a win would have and our place in the table, but that doesn't change anything. We've had these victories in the league and been comfortable at home, and this has to be our reality: Winning games. This doesn't change anything totally. We won, but we need consecutive wins to have that change of joy and relief in the dressing room that we need. We have to keep going and get the second consecutive victory," he emphasised, also noting the role of clean sheets.

“It's a positive because it's been a part of our image before, but not in the recent past. We have to go several games without conceding because one goal is enough and we are always closer to taking the three points."

Rúben Amorim also spoke about Luís Neto, who was recently operated on for a spontaneous pneumothorax.

“That was also something that gave us a lot of strength. I went to see him yesterday and, with two tubes in his chest, the first thing he asked me was what the starting XI was and how the team were doing. This shows how players feel about the competition. We wanted to give this joy to Neto, knowing that he will come back stronger and we are waiting for him."

The team get back on track with a 3-0 triumph

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to winning ways by besting Vitória SC 3-0 on Liga Portugal Matchday 12, with goals from Pedro Porro, Hidemasa Morita and Marcus Edwards.

Coach Rúben Amorim made changes to the starting lineup from the Tuesday night game against Eintracht Frankfurt, fielding Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Flávio Nazinho, Arthur Gomes, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves.

Sporting CP came out with the intention of controlling the match, and dominated proceedings right from the start. Gonçalves enjoyed the first goalscoring opportunity, but a deflection took the ball over the top.

Paulinho, Gonçalves and Hidemasa Morita all had chances, the latter forcing Bruno Varela into a reflex save. Porro went on to head over the crossbar.

In the 26th minute, Afonso fouled Gonçalo Inácio, receiving a second yellow card and reducing Vitória SC to ten men.

To take advantage of the numerical superiority, Amorim brought in Edwards in place of Nazinho in the 33rd minute, adding extra firepower in the attack.

The first goal came soon after: Arthur Gomes played in Matheus Reis, the fullback entered the area and held the ball up for Porro to arrive, then delivered it in for a header into the net, deflected by Edwards.

Sporting CP went looking for the second, which wasn't long in coming. Edwards got into the box and crossed to the back post, where Morita finished off to make it 2-0.

At half time, Amorim subbed on a former Vitória SC player, as Morita made way for Rochinha.

The second half started as the first half ended, with Sporting CP dominating and laying siege to the area. They took the score to 3-0 in the 56th minute, as Edwards shot from the edge of the area past a static opposition goalkeeper.

With the game all but won, Coates, Ugarte and Porro all came off, as Jeremiah St. Juste, Sotiris and Francisco Trincao were introduced. Despite the changes, the pace of the game dropped and there was only one more close chance before the end: Paulinho's strike in the 89th minute that was disallowed by VAR for offside.

Victorious in front of 27,324 fans at the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting CP will play next Sunday away to FC Famalicão, in what will be the last game before the break for the World Cup.

The coach analyses the 1-2 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt

In his post-match press conference following the defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim analysed a loss that means his side will now play in the Europa League.

"The match was divided and not very well played by us," he lamented. 

“Sometimes there was a lack of confidence in the team with the ball, but Eintracht Frankfurt weren't the better side. We had more chances and controlled the game better, but we didn't take advantage of some passes when the opposition opened up the central midfield. They barely had a shot on goal. The penalty didn't improve the game because they didn't put any more pressure on us, but then with a long ball they scored their second goal. That's the story of the game. It was very evenly matched and went the other team's way."

“It has been a difficult season so far, and what the coach can do is the same as always: Work hard every day and defend the players, because they give their best. It's okay to admit  that it hasn't been enough. When we look at our play, something is missing, especially at a time in which we have less confidence. The only way to turn this around is to work hard, win games, score goals and not suffer. There is no magic formula.”

Amorim then explained his choice to start Pedro Gonçalves in midfield. 

“We looked at where we have more players and  Gonçalves has experience there, as he was a central midfielder before. I thought it gave us more stability, and the first half showed that. It's an option we have, because he carried the ball forward. The player who scored our goal was the one who played in his position, Arthur Gomes."

To close, he justified bringing in Dário Essugo and Francisco Trincão off the bench.

“They were ready to come on before the penalty. Marcus Edwards was not doing well in the game and Manuel Ugarte was very tired from the first half. We looked at the players we had for those positions. Trincão usually plays there and Dário, who is the only one who can act as a defensive midfielder, did very well. There was no management of fatigue, as this game was decisive and a final," he said.

"They gave everything. We wanted to have fresh players and keep our idea going. It was a forced substitution, as I wasn't going to take Ugarte off because even though he was tired, he was a player who always fought a lot -with and without the ball."

A 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt means the team will now play in the Europa League

Sporting Clube de Portugal bowed out of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 6 of the Group Stage. With this result, they now drop into the UEFA Europa League, finishing third in the standings with seven points.

Rúben Amorim made six changes to the side that lost against FC Arouca in Liga Portugal the previous Saturday, with several returns to the starting lineup. Jeremiah St. Juste entered the defence and Pedro Porro and Nuno Santos returned to the wings, Manuel Ugarte came back into central midfield, partnering with Pedro Gonçalves, and Paulinho and Marcus Edwards were used in the attack alongside Arthur.

Sporting CP had previously beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 in Germany, and came into the game at the Estádio José Alvalade needing only a draw to progress in the competition.

Several attacks from the wings opened the contest, and Edwards was the first to create danger, taking advantage of a loose ball in the area following a free-kick, but opposition goalkeeper Kevin Trapp made the save. At the other end, Evan N'Dicka's header required a huge stop by Antonio Adán.

More proactive than their opponents, Sporting CP lacked the final ball on several promising moves. 

In the 33rd minute, Amorim was forced to make a change, bringing on Matheus Reis to replace Nuno Santos due to injury.

In the 39th minute, Os Leões opened the scoring. Following a move from the right by Edwards, Ugarte received the ball and crossed into the area, where Arthur struck first time into the net. It was the winger's second goal in the UEFA Champions League, having also scored against Tottenham Hotspur.

After the interval, Sporting CP didn't take their foot off the accelerator and went in search of a second goal, but would suffer a harsh setback in the 59th minute, when a penalty was given against Coates for handball in the area. Daichi Kamada converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.

Soon after, Dário Essugo (making his first appearance in the competition this season) and Francisco Trincão came in for Ugarte and Edwards.

Eintracht Frankfurt gained motivation and created several moves that provided danger. With 72 minutes gone, Kolo Muani consummated the comeback with a goal that took the score to 1-2.

St. Juste went off for Jovane Cabral, with Matheus Reis dropping back into the defense and Arthur moving to the wing, and Sporting CP spent the following moments on the attack, although without being able to test Trapp.

In the last two moves of the game, Adán went upfield for two corners that could have led to an equaliser, but Os Leões were unable to find the goal that they needed and lost 1-2.

Sporting CP will now have to wait for a draw to find out their opponents in the UEFA Europa League, but first they will host Vitória SC this Saturday, November 5th, at home.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adan, [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste (Jovane Cabral, 78'), Sebastián Coates, [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Dário Essugo, 63'), Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis, 33'), Arthur, Marcus Edwards ( Francisco Trincao, 63') and Paulinho.