The fullback talks after the Champions League win

After the triumph in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt, Pedro Porro appeared in the mixed zone and talked about the game.

"It's another victory and now it's time to get into a good dynamic and continue like this. On Saturday we have another important game that we want to win," said the right-back, who set up Nuno Santos for the third goal.

"We have a very good, strong group that will continue like this. We work well and sometimes you are at the top, sometimes you are at the bottom. You have to keep going and the results will come," he added, also talking about the improvement in the second half.

"We were playing well and were comfortable, which was the most important thing. We continued with the dynamics of the first half, but in the second the chances appeared and we didn't let the opposition off."

"I appreciate all the support from the fans who came to Germany. I would love them to also be in Alvalade on Saturday," he concluded by saying.

The coach comments on the victory over Eintracht Frankfurt

After the historic victory in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt - Sporting CP's first ever win on German soil - coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match in his post-match press conference.

"In the first half we started to play our game, but we began with a bad pass from Ugarte and Adán saved the day. We made some mistakes that Eintracht took advantage of, especially in the first half, but we avoided conceding. Then we became more stable and we did what we had practiced. There was a lot of space and the midfielders started to keep the ball. We didn't have great chances in the first half, and Eintracht had more, but only because of our mistakes in the buildup. The second half was different: We kept up our way of playing and it was us who created more danger because we had more space. The game broke down a bit, which we didn't want, but we took advantage of it. After scoring the goals, we controlled play well and created anxiety amongst Eintracht. We scored three goals in a victory that seems fair to me," he began by saying.

The coach also revealed that, at half-time, he told the players "to do what they had been doing, but showing the quality they have". "We gained confidence with the first goal and the second came right afterwards. We've had games this year where the opposite has happened."

"It's easier for us to have the ball with teams that press high and are anxious about the result. That gives us peace of mind. For me, the most important thing is that we continue to have the same personality and improve within the game itself. It has another effect when it's in the Champions League, but it's just another game. We took advantage of the opponents' mistakes, but the fact that we came here, had the ball, scored three goals and didn't concede has an impact."

Regarding Francisco Trincão, who scored his first goal for the club, Amorim stressed that "he is a very talented player who has been lacking the goalscoring side that he has shown in training. Both he and Edwards have to be more aggressive when it comes to attacking, and that's what changed from the first half to the second."

He concluded by stating that "the players have to think that they have won a game in the Champions League, but that they are eighth in the Liga Portugal. They have to think that they need to win against Portimonense SC, who have five more points than them."

Sporting CP win 0-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt

Sporting Clube de Portugal won in Germany for the first time ever in Champions League action, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 on Matchday 1. Marcus Edwards, Francisco Trincao and Nuno Santos were the scorers, all finding the net in the second half.

Up against a team making their debut in the UEFA Champions League under the current format, Sporting CP had to contend with the enthusiasm amongst the home fans created a great atmosphere at a packed Deutsche Bank Park -including many travelling supporters.

Rúben Amorim made only one change to the starting lineup from the win against GD Estoril Praia, as Gonçalo Inácio replaced Nuno Santos. Paulinho returned to the squad, amongst the substitutes along with new signing Arthur Gomes.

Sporting CP suffered an early scare after just two minutes, when a mistake by Manuel Ugarte allowed Kolo Muani to go through on Antonio Adán, who responded with a great intervention.

Eintracht Frankfurt pushed forward and had another good chance in the seventh minute, when Kolo Muani shot wide.

Sporting CP were awarded a penalty after Marcus Edwards was brought down inside the box, but referee Roy Hassan reversed his decision after consulting VAR.

Two more mistakes, this time by Adán and Inácio, gave two more chances to Eintracht Frankfurt, but neither Kamada nor Lindstrøm could finish successfully.

As Rúben Amorim had warned ahead of the game, it was necessary to calm the atmosphere, and greater organisation and control of the ball settled things down. A great chance came his team's way in the 35th minute, when Edwards combined with Pedro Porro, got into the area and shot on goal, forcing an excellent save by Kevin Trapp.

After a goalless first half, in the opening minutes of the second period Jeremiah St. Juste was replaced by Luís Neto, who was put to work in the 53rd minute, blocking a shot by Kamada.

Hidemasa Morita's recovery of possession in midfield, kick-started a chance for Sporting CP, as he played to Edwards, who set up Porro to shoot into the side netting. In the 63rd minute, another opportunity presented itself to Sporting CP, when Francisco Trincao shot over from a free kick.

The goal finally arrived moments later, on 65 minutes: An excellent move saw Pedro Gonçalves find Morita. He in turn provided the assist to Edwards, the Englishman finding the net even when being fouled by Ebimbe.

With the deadlock finally broken, Sporting CP went forward again. Morita and Gonçalves were again involved in the buildup off a counterattack, with Edwards then timing his pass to assist Francisco Trincão. It was his first goal since joining the club in the summer.

After two rapidfire goals Amorim brought on Rochinha to replace Edwards, then Nuno Santos and Paulinho to replace Gonçalves and Trincão.

Inside the final ten minutes, Sporting CP rounded off the scoring, as a fantastic run by Porro past several opposition players gave him space to cross to Nuno Santos. He finished off with class to make it 0-3.

Os Leões will now host Portimonense SC in Liga Portugal this weekend.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste (Luís Neto, 52'), Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Matheus Reis, Francisco Trincão (Paulinho, 79'), Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos, 79') e Marcus Edwards (Rochinha, 73').

The coach looks ahead to the Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt

Sporting Clube de Portugal landed in Germany on Tuesday, the day before their game against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

In the press conference that preceded training at the Deutsche Bank Park, coach Rúben Amorim began by stating that, after the 2-0 victory against GD Estoril Praia this past weekend, the preparation for the European clash had been positive.

"This week was better for us because we won, because it was a deserved victory, because we played well and because we scored goals. We improved defensively, but even so there were opportunities that were gifts from us. However, our preparation is always better when we win deservedly."

He went on to say that Eintracht Frankfurt "are a team with a lot of technical quality. If we share possession it is very difficult to keep up with the pace, because the Bundesliga has a different rhythm to our league. We have to play with the team staying very compact when defending and attacking."

Amorim spoke of players like Götze, Kamada, Kolo and Lindstrom.

"They are very fast and, with space between the lines, will make the game difficult. "We have our weapons as well. We know the atmosphere we are going to face. We want to have the ball at the beginning of the game."

Eintracht Frankfurt are making their debut in the current UEFA Champions League format, but have individuals with experience in the competition, as the coach noted.

"They will be encouraged well, as we saw with the Eintracht Frankfurt fans last year across Europe. Looking at them piece by piece, Rode played for Bayern Munich, Götze has a lot of experience, as do others. They also have players who are going to debut in the UEFA Champions League. We cannot make the mistakes that we did last year in the competition. We have to play our football and take the game to the terrain that we want: To have the ball, press the opposition and not hurry."

"We have lost important players, but we have a squad which gives other things. Ugarte is very good at building play, Morita has been a good addition, and Gonçalves can be a more attacking midfielder. We have greater variability in the game," he explained.

Regarding Sporting CP's ambitions in the UEFA Champions League, Amorim repeated a familiar mantra: "We take things game-by-game. We know our limitations in relation to other clubs. We have a group in which everyone can progress, which could be good or bad. The ambition is to win the next game and see what happens."

"The Deutsche Bank Park has one of the best atmospheres in European football. We are used to big stages in Portugal, and we experienced it last season in Turkey. We will be prepared, knowing that fans like this can push the team to victory. We have to have the ball and calm them down."

The winger joins from GD Estoril Praia

Sporting Clube de Portugal have reached an agreement to sign 24-year-old Arthur Gomes. The Brazilian winger arrives at Alvalade from GD Estoril Praia, for whom he played in 2021/2022 (making 29 appearances and scoring two goals) and at the beginning of the current season, scoring once in four matches played.

Presented on Monday at the Academia Sporting, accompanied by Frederico Varandas, chairman of the Board of Directors, Gomes said that he is "very happy. This is a dream come true. I will do everything to repay the trust placed in me."

Ironically, his first game in Portuguese football was against Sporting CP, and now he gets the chance to play for the team under Rúben Amorim.

"He's a great coach and he showed a lot of confidence in me in our first conversation. I'll do everything to live up to his expectations," said the winger, who wants to get started as soon as possible.

"I don't like to define who I am on the pitch. I hope that, with a lot of hard work, I can make the fans happy. I'll do my best and show why I came here," he stressed, also revealing that the opportunity to play Champions League football was a big attraction.

"It's the biggest competition in the world, and it was one of my goals to play in it. I hope to be able to fulfill that dream and go, together with Sporting CP, as far as possible - one step at a time. I'm very happy to be able to play in the UEFA Champions League."

"I hope that the fans support us from start to finish. I've played against Sporting CP in Alvalade and it was very difficult, with the fans always supporting the team. I appreciate the reception I've had, with many messages sent to me on social networks. I hope to repay them for that by bringing them a lot of joy."

Before his time at GD Estoril Praia, Arthur Gomes was part of the youth setup and senior side at Santos FC. He has had loan spells at A. Chapecoense de Futebol and AC Goianiense.

The Sporting CP coach gives his verdict on a 0-2 win

After the 0-2 victory away to GD Estoril Praia, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match, starting by highlighting the first half display.

"We were very consistent. It was a better first half and we had more opportunities, whilst in the second half, in addition to the wind, we felt the two previous defeats a little at the beginning. Even so, we had the better of the chances; we could have taken them better, but it's clearly a well deserved victory against a team with a lot of talented youngsters, who had three more points than us," he began by telling  journalists.

The opponents didn't have many opportunities. We 'gifted' them one and normally they would have taken advantage of that, but today it was not the case and we finished two of the ten we had."

The coach praised the display of defender Jeremiah St. Juste, who made his first start and scored the opening goal of the game, going on to be named Man of the Match.

"We're looking after everybody's fitness, but he was very good. He scored a goal and he's very fast, but it's noticeable that it was his first start. He was very focused, good with the ball and he's a very important player for us. We invested a lot in him and he has a great future ahead of him," said Amorim, before talking about his decision to take off Pedro Gonçalves.

"He took a knock, so we'll see if he's ready for the next game, but I think he will be", he said, adding that, in turn, forward Paulinho "should be back in the next training session."
Addressing another individual performances -that of Francisco Trincão- he stated that the young winger "is growing fast."

 "He's a great talent, he's always been a player who scored a lot of goals and that's what he's been missing a little bit, but that will change. He breaks through opposition defences and he lacks a little aggression -just like Marcus Edwards does-, but he's going to grow."

Invited to talk about the movements in the transfer market, Amorim acknowledged that he lost "players we didn't want to lose", but stressed: "We brought in young players, we will form a team again and we will go from there."

Now, the last new face to arrive at Alvalade was Arthur Gomes, a player who “fits the project."

“As a winger, I was sure about which player I wanted and Arthur was that man. We have known him for some time and he is a player who, due to his value, potential and cost, fits into our project."

Finally, asked about the substitutions made, the coach said that he never had the UEFA Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt in mind.

"We had to win. This game was the most important. I felt the team were very focused and that we are growing. We are already thinking about the next match."

The team bounce back against GD Estoril Praia

Sporting Clube de Portugal won a Friday night fixture 0-2 against GD Estoril Praia, on Liga Portugal Matchday 5. Coming into the game off the back of two negative results, the team returned to winning ways with a great response, as Jeremiah St. Juste and Marcus Edwards got the goals for Os Leões.

GD Estoril Praia started the weekend fifth in the table, and Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim adjusted his side with four changes to the starting XI: Matheus Reis, Hidemasa Morita, Jeremiah St. Juste (making his first start) and Pedro Porro (returning from suspension) were brought in, with Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio and Rochinha moving to the bench. Pedro Gonçalves was brought upfield into the attack and summer signing Sotiris Alexandropoulos was called up for the first time.

Sporting CP monopolised possession of the ball in the first ten minutes, and opportunities arose as a result. From the first corner of the game, Matheus Reis headed against the crossbar. Soon after, St. Juste burst into the heart of the area to open the scoring in Estoril, with his maiden goal for the club.

The home team's Rodrigo Martins almost took advantage of a defensive lapse to level, but failed to score into an empty net. After that scare, Sporting CP immediately increased their advantage: Porro played long to Gonçalves, and he masterfully set up Marcus Edwards. The Englishman rounded goalkeeper Dani Figueira and made it 0-2 shortly after the 20-minute mark.

Once again, GD Estoril Praia tried a response, with an effort from João Carlos that failed to hit the target.

In the 35th minute, Porro broke into the area and shot over, Gonçalves and Nuno Santos saw their dangerous shots blocked, and Edwards was denied by Figueira.

An excellent first part came to an end with Sporting CP 0-2 up and looking strong.

After the restart, GD Estoril Praia advanced their lines and had more of the ball, with ex-Leão Francisco Geraldes the protagonist. Benchimol missed a shot in a one-on-one with Adán, in the closest chance of the early going.

In the 57th minute, Amorim replaced Edwards with Rochinha in the centre of the attack, and little by little the first offensive approaches appeared. The best of them came in the 70th minute, when Porro, from a direct free-kick, came very close to extending the lead.

Sporting CP recovered possession and control, whilst a series of eight yellow cards were shown in the final stages as the intensity increased.

Amorim brought in Esgaio, Fatawu and the debuting Sotiris, with Porro, Pedro Gonçalves and Ugarte making way, for the closing minutes, taking the team through to the final whistle.

After their 0-2 triumph in Liga Portugal action, Sporting CP debut in the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League with a trip to Germany on Wednesday, facing Eintracht Frankfurt in Group D.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Pedro Porro (Ricardo Esgaio, 89’), Jeremiah St. Juste (Luís Neto, 77'), Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte (Sotiris Alexandropoulos, 89'), Hidemasa Morita, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves (Fatawu, 89') and Marcus Edwards (Rochinha, 57').

The coach believes a win against GD Estoril Praia can spark a turnaround

Sporting Clube de Portugal play a Friday fixture away to GD Estoril Praia on Liga Portugal Matchday 4, and whilst coach Rúben Amorim had praise for the opposition, he stated in his pre-match press conference that the only intention is to win.

“This past week wasn't the happiest we've had, but we kept doing the same things. We looked at the game with GD Chaves and saw what we did well and what we need to improve on. We worked on things from there. When the week is focused on specific tasks, it goes by faster. This week's game has been moved to a day earlier and, for me, it's very good because I think there's a lot that is being done well. There are other aspects where we have to improve and, of course, we want to win games. I hope that Sporting CP win. We have to remember that GD Estoril Praia have an excellent team, with very talented young players, and that they have nothing to lose,” he said.

Jovane Cabral, Paulinho and Daniel Bragança will be unavailable, but Amorim welcomes back Pedro Porro and will have summer signing Sotiris at his disposal.

"He will be called up because we have a small number of players and because I want Matheus Fernandes to play, because he has not played for a long time and we have to think about tomorrow - for now he will play for the B team," revealed the coach, explaining the signing of the Greek international.

"He's a player with potential, but we didn't think he'd arrive here and take on an important role immediately. We believe a lot in him, and we don't know what might happen with Manuel Ugarte. I'm not only concerned about the present, I'm also concerned about the future and our project. Sotiris is a player for the present, but essentially for the future."

Asked about the aims for the team, Amorim stated that he wants “To win all the games. We will do the maths at the end of the season. Most competitions haven't started yet and therefore we have a lot to win, albeit we are aware of the points difference in the league. The only way to get around this is to win games. There is no other way. What we clearly have to do is improve in some aspects. I try to come up with solutions and that's what we did this week. By winning the games, we get around the 'crisis.' It's normal, as we are at a very big and very demanding club that has already been through these moments. We've won trophies, we've sold players and now we're going to try to turn around a bad moment. The way to turn it around is to win games and beat GD Estoril Praia."

"We're not going to take steps back. We will play the same way as we have been playing because we are a big club. In our first season I said that we had to play better, that we defended well, but that we had to play better and, therefore, we are not going to take steps backwards. We want to play, be dominant and win. We have to score goals and when that's the case, the games are better controlled. We have to score goals to gain even more confidence."

“My players are always the best in the world," he continued. "We have a team good enough to have beaten GD Chaves, we could have played better at the Estádio do Dragão and we could clearly have won against SC Braga. We have solutions, I'm satisfied with my players and in terms of dynamics we change them a lot. We will do the same as always and we will field the XI that I think is strongest."

Commenting on the compliments that club president Frederico Varandas gave him on Wednesday, at the 18th anniversary celebration of the Sporting CP Museum, Amorim expressed that “I have to prove it every day. Right now , I think I'm the 13th best coach in the league. These words are from a president who believes in the coach. Our relationship is normal, and the same as we have always had. We argue because we have to. I have to do my part and the president has to guide all the departments and guide an organisation that is much bigger than football. Everything is fine between us."

“As for the fans, they've always been good to me. Right now, the Sportinguistas look at the team and realise that they give their all on the pitch, that they make some mistakes and that they need support. The board don't need to support me. I feel quite comfortable here. As I said, the only way to get through this is to win games, and I believe I can win every game because I'm backed by my players. I always feel very well supported at Sporting CP," he underlined.

The club sign the Greek talent through to 2027

Sotiris Alexandropoulos has signed for Sporting Clube de Portugal, through to 2027. The Greek international joins from Panathinaikos FC on a contract through to 2027, with a buyout clause of 60 million euros.

“Sporting CP are a great club, I could sense that from the first moment I arrived here. I spoke with several players in Greece and some former teammates who played here, and all said very good things about the club. I'm very happy to be here,” he began by saying at his unveiling.

“It's my first experience abroad, but I feel prepared and proud. This was a step I wanted to take and Sporting CP are the ideal club because they work with young players. I'm looking forward to starting training with my teammates and showing what I can do on the pitch. I'm fast, good at one-on-one situations and I play with passion. I will try to help the players and the team."

As for his first impressions of the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, Alexandropoulos said that “from the first time I came to the Academia I knew that there were the perfect tools to work with here. I was given a very good welcome by everyone and the team are incredible, as is the stadium. Now I'm looking forward to meeting the fans at the ground and giving them happiness and victories."

The midfielder acknowledged that Andraž Šporar was one of the players who advised him to come to Alvalade.

“When I heard about Sporting CP's interest, Šporar told me to come here. He told me about the club, the people and the way they work here. He told me it would be a big step for me and that helped me, as he is a great player and also a friend."

The chance to play in the UEFA Champions League was another reason Alexandropoulos chose Sporting CP.

“I have dreamed of playing in the UEFA Champions League since I was a child. Without Sporting CP I would not have been able to achieve this, so I'm very happy and looking forward to playing my first game in that beautiful competition. I promise I will always do my best,” the 20-year old promised.

Regarding coach Rúben Amorim, the new no.6 said he had not yet had the opportunity to meet him, but that he was highly rated.

“'I've heard very good things about the coach. He likes to work hard and improve young players like me. I haven't had the chance to meet him in person yet, but we've talked a little and I'm aware of his general idea for the team. I look forward to starting working with him on the pitch.”

“I can promise passion and that I will give 100 percent. I like to win and I will give everything for the team to achieve our goals."

A youth product at Panathinaikos FC, Sotiris Alexandropoulos made his debut for the first team on October 20th, 2019, aged 17, away to Atromitos FC. In total, he made 77 appearances for the club, scoring two goals and winning a Greek Cup.

​The coach laments a lack of effectiveness in front of goal

In his post-match press conference after the defeat against GD Chaves, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim put the loss down to a lack of effectiveness in front of goal.

“The main mistake was failing to score goals. In the first half we didn't let GD Chaves create any dangerous situation and we had several chances. Even with the ones that weren't clear chances, there were several crosses where we just couldn't get the ball into the net. In the second half we conceded two goals in quick succession, and from then on the team didn't have the same cool heads. We made changes to widen play and we put Coates up front to take advantage of the crosses we were delivering, but from then on we didn't create the clear chances that we had in the first half,” he began by saying.

“Time was running out and we were losing confidence. There was a lot of anxiety, which is natural, but the players gave everything. They ran to the fullest, but things didn't work out. We conceded two goals: One from a free kick with a header almost from outside the area, and the other from a quick transition. If we had scored half the chances we had today, we would have won the game, and that's what I will focus on. The game is over, we lost and now we will turn our thoughts to the next one."

Amorim refused the suggestion that the players did not interpret the message from the coaching staff well.

“The players are playing well, but they are not scoring goals. We created a lot of chances; it would be worrying if we didn't create them. Of course, when we lose and concede eight goals in four games, in addition to already being at a considerable distance behind our rivals, everything is seen as a problem: From the message that it is not getting through, or this or that. Obviously we have to improve a lot, create even more chances and score goals,” he stressed.

The coach also commented on the performance of Pedro Gonçalves, who retreated to midfield to partner Manuel Ugarte.

“If he scored from his first shot, which hit the post and the goalkeeper's back, maybe it would have opened up the game. Even playing further back, he had several shots."

Next up, Sporting CP take on GD Estoril Praia away from home.

“We are at the beginning of the season and it is obviously a very difficult time, but we have to face things naturally because this is the life of coaches and footballers. Tomorrow we will come back to work, and if we win GD Estoril Praia everything will be a little better," he stated.

"Of course there is a problem, but there is no need to make a drama out of it. We have to turn around and from now on we can't concede goals, that's my idea and it has to be the players' idea."