A proud Sporting CP coach comments on the showing against Tottenham

After the 2-0 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal over Tottenham Hotspur FC, Rúben Amorim analysed the match in his post-match press conference.

"What made the difference was the individual quality of our players. We believed until the end. Even against a great team, we were more cautious than we normally are. We couldn't afford to break up the game all the time and the players were fantastic. In the first half, we were more cautious, and in the second we had more difficulty in keeping the ball. The game was evenly matched, with two teams having the ball but wary of the transitions from the opposition. In the end, we were the happier side. We had several opportunities to score and we were happy in the end," he began by saying.

For the coach, Tottenham Hotspur FC remain the favourites in Group D, not least because "there are still many games to play."

"Last year we had two defeats to start the group stage, and we went through to the knockout stages. This year it could be the other way around," he added.

"Out there were two mature teams who knew that, off a transition, they could win or lose the game. Congratulations to the players because, with the fatigue and short preparation time they had, and against outstanding players, they were very mature. They were heroes."

"The win was down to the players, who believed until the end and played a very mature game," he continued, before noting that the strategy at Sporting CP has remained the same since the defeat at home to GD Chaves.

"We always believe. When we lost against GD Chaves, we looked at our team, our project and path with the same clarity as today. We just had to manage things differently," he considered.

"We have grown in the way we approach games and we are more used to these moments. We have a lot to do. We lost balls in the buildup, and we had difficulty bringing the ball out to play. We ended up happy, but we deserved it."

About Arthur Gomes, who made an immediate impact on his debut for Sporting CP with a goal shortly after coming on, Amorim explained that the Brazilian "is very strong and aggressive in one-on-one situations. That's what we looked for from him. He's already paid for himself, which always comes in handy!"

The player talks in the post-match mixed zone

In the mixed zone after Sporting Clube de Portugal's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur FC, Nuno Santos spoke to journalists.

"All victories in the UEFA Champions League are very important. We have six points now, but we have to keep calm because there is still a lot to do and at the weekend we have a very important game at Bessa. If we don't win that, then it cancels everything that we have done and we take a step backwards. The fans want victories and we are going to be strong at Bessa. This victory gives us confidence," he began by saying.

"We are confident and today was proof of that. In a game against a very strong team, we gave an incredible response, with a spirit of enormous sacrifice, and were focused until the end. The goals came from the 85th minute onwards. We believed until the end."

The player previews the UEFA Champions League game

In the press conference ahead of the match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Tottenham Hotspur, scheduled for Tuesday at 5:45 at the Estádio José Alvalade, player Francisco Trincao spoke on behalf of the club.

The winger started by talking about his own recent form, which has included an impressive series of recent displays.

"I've done the same as always: Given my best and helped the team, whether with goals or playing well. I always want to help the team win," he said.

Asked about a possible increased level of confidence after his goal in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt, Trincao explained that it is his daily work that motivates him.

"What gives me confidence is what I do during the week, all my preparation. The goal is something natural in football. We knew what we had to do, we worked well during the week and did what the coach asked us to do. We won the game and that was what mattered," he commented, before analysing opponents Tottenham.

"They are a very strong team. We know their strengths and weaknesses and we have studied them well. They are a team that, perhaps, will let us have the ball, but we have to be prepared for when they have it."

On whether he has his sights set on a call-up for the Portuguese national team, Trincao  guaranteed that his full concentration is on Sporting CP.

"I try to do my job and it's up to the coach whether he calls me up or not. The focus is on what I control. I'm here to help Sporting CP to be the best possible. I'm just another person looking to contribute," he concluded.

The coach eyes up another European victory against Tottenham Hotspur

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday (5:45pm local time), on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage

On the eve of the game, coach Rúben Amorim spoke in a pre-match press conference, and was not hiding the fact that victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany had given his side confidence for the European competition.

" I wouldn't change a thing. The important thing is to keep our identity. That's what we did, even when we suffered defeats, and the way we turned the situation around was very much by being confident in what we do," he said.  

"We can't always control the results, but what we were seeing in games was that we were dominant and that we could play well."

"The most important thing is that we've changed the way we look at ourselves. We know it's possible to win in Europe, that we're growing. Even with us having lost players, it's clear that we're a more mature team and prepared for these games. It doesn't really matter how people look at us; I'm sure most people in Europe see us as the weakest team in the group, and we like that. We believe it's possible, we want to win and our objective for tomorrow is to win the game."

He went on to analyse Tottenham Hotspur FC, a team he considers to be "very strong, with a coach who wins wherever he goes".

"They are very strong in transitions, on set pieces and even when the ball is with their goalkeeper, Lloris. All of his goal kicks are very dangerous. They are a complete team with quality players. We tried to study Tottenham Hotspur as much as possible, but we focused more on ourselves, on our weaknesses and on what we have to try to hide in our movements to take advantage of our abilities. We are a team who like to have the ball and we want to keep that identity and way of playing. We want to be competitive in every one of our games. The responsibility is clearly on Tottenham Hotspur's shoulders, but we are a big club in Portugal and we have to play to win."

Amorim did not want to focus on the shorter recovery and preparation time that Sporting CP have for this match due to the cancellation of Spurs' Premier League game against Manchester City, acknowledging that "normally, it is the English teams who have more difficult schedules. With this being a UEFA Champions League game, young and ambitious players like ours are sure to have recovered in time."

Asked about the absences of Jeremiah St. Juste and Luís Neto in defence, the coach noted that there are other players who can play in these positions.

"We lost St. Juste, who is our fastest player and perhaps the perfect fit for marking Tottenham's fastest player, Son. Neto is experienced, and we also lost him. We will have others come in. Gonçalo Inácio could be an option, as well as Ricardo Esgaio," he said.

"The opposition will make the game very difficult for us. If Tottenham Hotspur score first, it will be very tough because they are good with the ball, can build play and are good at waiting for a team and making transitions. We have to be careful with our buildup and not change our identity".
Finally, Amorim spoke about Marcus Edwards and Hidemasa Morita.

"Edwards is one of the best in Portugal playing between the lines. He had difficulty getting used to the Portuguese lifestyle and that is changing. Our group is very young and he fits better in our team. Lisbon is not London, but it is different to Guimarães, and all this has an impact on the player's involvement. The talent is all there and I think he can improve a lot and reach the England national team. He has to be more consistent and I think he is already showing that. I see a lot of talent in him, I think he can grow a lot, but he has a long way to go," he commented of the Englishman.

"As for Morita, all coaches should train at least one Japanese player to understand what it means to be a player who is always ready to help the team. He is very respectful and he plays in any position, as he always wants to learn. I have only good things to say about [Hidemasa] Morita. More and more Japanese players are entering Europe and he has a lot of technical ability. I'm very satisfied with him and I'm glad we chose to sign him."

The Sporting CP squad trained on Sunday morning

After their 4-0 rout of Portimonense SC in Liga Portugal action, Sporting Clube de Portugal trained on Sunday morning, at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.

The starters from the match carried out recovery work, while the remainder of the squad worked on the pitch, accompanied by several youngsters from the B team.

Jovane Cabral underwent treatment and Luís Neto missed the session with a sprain to his left knee, and will undergo further tests in the coming days.

Sporting CP train again on Monday at 10am, with the first 15 minutes open to the public. Ahead of Tuesday's match against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, at 7pm Rúben Amorim and a player will attend the pre-match press conference.

Sporting CP run out 4-0 victors at home in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Portimonense SC 4-0 at home on Matchday 6 of the Liga Portugal season, as Francisco Trincão bagged a brace and Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos added to the scoresheet. The win was the third in as many games for Rúben Amorim's side.

The coach, taking into account a packed schedule that includes midweek Champions League fixtures, made four changes to his starting XI: Nuno Santos, Luís Neto, Rochinha and Ricardo Esgaio came in for Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste, Manuel Ugarte and Pedro Porro, who had begun the game against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

After a quiet first few minutes, Sporting CP took the initiative, not only threatening but also establishing an early lead. After Esgaio had shot straight at opposition goalkeeper Kosuke, on the resulting corner the ball went into the 'D', where Trincão, with his left foot, shot first time. His strike -which caught a deflection off a defender, found its way into the net and made it 1-0 at Alvalade.

The rapid goal forced Portimonense SC coach Paulo Sérgio to abandon his highly conservative strategy of a packed defensive line. The visitors had come into the game in fourth place in the table and the second fewest goals conceded (two).

With plenty of the ball, Sporting CP were controlling the action, with attacks and combinations between Edwards and Trincão, and runs by Esgaio on the right.

Trincão had a dangerous shot intercepted by a defender and Rochinha hit just wide of the goal. For the away team, ex-Leão Gonçalo Costa -who would be taken off before the half hour- put Antonio Adán to the test, for the first time close to 25 minutes in.

The pace then slowed down, before Sporting CP picked it back up with a series of chances. First, Nuno Santos forced a great save from Kosuke, and in the 40th minute, a three-touch move took the team 2-0 to the good. After a recovery high up the pitch, he immediately launched the ball long to Rochinha, who crossed low for Trincão to finish.

Just before the break, only the goalkeeper kept out a shot from Edwards from outside the area, whilst referee Cláudio Pereira momentarily lost control of the game and showed four cards, three of them to Sporting CP – including a red to assistant coach Carlos Fernandes.

After the halftime break, Matheus Reis replaced Gonçalo Inácio. Amorim was then forced to take off Neto when he received a hard challenge, bringing on Porro.
Later, on the hour, the coach freshened things up with Paulinho and Sotiris Alexandropoulos coming on for Rochinha and Morita.

Sporting CP were comfortable and enjoying several attacks. After Coates had threatened with a header from a corner, Paulinho chased a lost ball in the area and, with the goalkeeper coming out, set up Trincão. Pedrão would clear off the line.

In the 72nd minute the score was extended to 3-0, through Gonçalves as he appeared alone at the far post to meet a perfect cross from Porro.

Nuno Santos rounded off the win with an assist from Gonçalves, shooting low to take the result to 4-0.

Sporting CP move up to ten points in Liga Portugal. They will be back in action on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, playing  Tottenham Hotspur FC is scheduled for 5:45pm local time at Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio, Luís Neto (Pedro Porro, 54'), Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 46'), Nuno Santos, Hidemasa Morita (Sotiris Alexandropoulos, 60'), Pedro Gonçalves , Francisco Trincão, Marcus Edwards (Paulinho, 60’) and Rochinha (Manuel Ugarte, 54’).

The coach looks at Saturday's game in Liga Portugal

Just three days after their win in Frankfurt (0-3) in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal return to Liga Portugal action on Saturday, facing Portimonense SC at Estádio Jose Alvalade.

On the eve of the match, coach Rúben Amorim held a press conference to preview the game, insisting on the need to refocus for the match. 

"The preparation time we've had hasn't been long. We arrived yesterday from Frankfurt and we are already preparing for Portimonense SC, who have five points more than Sporting CP so far this season. Our objective is to move to two points behind them, and we also have to change the type of game that we will play. It's a reset," he began by telling journalists. 

“Portimonense SC will play in a completely different way from what we found in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt," Amorim continued. “We know that Portimonense SC will defend well and try to make our team a little anxious. That was the preparation we did, so we have to use speed and a lot of energy."

 "We know that Portimonense SC have had all week to prepare, they are very motivated and we have to rotate the team because we really have to win the game. It will be different from what we saw in Germany: With even more responsibility on our shoulders, we all have to be prepared for whatever will happen."

Asked about the short period of time between games, Amorim did not hide the fact that "the players are still very tired," but also stressed that "the best way to recover is to beat Portimonense SC. This is what we're going to focus on. Now we have to get our third consecutive victory and move closer to the top of the table."

As for some of the possible changes in Saturday's starting lineup, the coach mentioned that “Paulinho is another option that gives us a different alternative in the centre of the attack,” while new signing Sotiris Alexandropoulos “still needs to get used to the position."

"The entire squad has to be prepared, and the best players for the game will play to go for the win."

To conclude, Amorim pointed out that despite the fact that Sporting CP have not conceded goals in the last two matches, "there are still things to improve."

 "We learn from our mistakes. It will be a difficult game, and we will have to be careful with errors and defending set pieces. We will feel the anxiety of the fans, but we have to maintain our identity."

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').