The coach says he "believes in his team" ahead of the Lisbon derby

Sporting Clube de Portugal visit SL Benfica at the Estadio da Luz this Friday for a Lisbon derby on Liga Portugal Matchday 13, and coach Rúben Amorim previewed the game in his pre-match press conference.

He began by confirming that Jovane Cabral, Rúben Vinagre, Sebastián Coates and João Palhinha will all be out for the big game. Despite admitting that they are "players that are needed", Amorim assured that the side have the necessary talent to replace them.

"Everyone who is missing, due to the minutes and the characteristics they have, are difficult to replace. However, whoever comes in for them will be very capable. Everyone will have to lead the team in the game and we have to adapt to the characteristics of the players we have, which are different. Everybody is prepared", he added.

"The small details can change, but it won't be a big surprise. There were games without Coates or Palhinha that we won. In the last derby at Alvalade, we played without Palhinha and we won. The best Sporting CP will play, so let's look at the glass as half-full, for the project. There is nothing better than these games to blood these great players, who are young and have not been through these moments", he said.

He then analysed the game itself, and assured that the objective is the same as always: "It's a game against a great team with a very experienced coach, who have already had a year of work together. They have many solutions, and are very strong on second balls and between the lines. They can play with two forwards and Rafa Silva behind, or with Cebolinha between the lines. João has had a great season, Weigl has improved a lot... The defence doesn't concede many goals and the goalkeeper is having a great season. This will be a great team against another great team. We have our strengths and we obviously want to win".

On the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected several clubs and is what has prevented captain Coates from playing in the derby, he explained that the group have to "get used to living with this" and reinforced the importance of vaccination.

"We are vaccinated. Coates does not have any symptoms and that is the most important thing for us. We have seen that the vaccine works. It prevents serious symptoms and that is the main focus. For now, we have to safeguard ourselves and perform the tests. It provides more opportunities for others and more motivation for the squad".

Finally, the coach stated that he prefers not to be favourite to win.

"I really believe in my team, whoever plays. We are not favourites and this team likes it that way", he concluded.

The coach provides his assessment of a win over CD Tondela

Rúben Amorim was satisfied with an 11th consecutive win for Sporting Clube de Portugal in all competitions, but reflected on things that his side could have done better against CD Tondela.

“We grew during the game. We started off quickly and we scored the goal, but from there we switched off and let CD Tondela have some of the ball, meaning we had to accelerate to recover it. We lacked some energy in the first half, but in the second half we were different. We stepped up a gear again, as we knew we needed to score another goal because the game was always dangerous, and we got better. It was a fair result in a game that was always difficult. All games are, but we were deserved winners,” began the coach.

The goals were scored by Pablo Sarabia and Paulinho, but the coach explained that he looks more at the overall performance of each player -and not just the goals.

“I don't know if this is the best moment of form for this attacking trio, and even today I think they didn't have a great game. I'm happy that they scored, but they also know what they did in the first half and in the second," he said, speaking in particular about Paulinho: "Today he scored and we are grateful for it, but he also has to continue doing what he does very well."
Amorim also made mention of João Palhinha, who got injured during the game.

 “Palhinha was about to go off before. It's one of those unlucky things, but we have to wait for the results of his tests tomorrow. There is always the risk of him missing the game against SL Benfica, and everyone knows he is a very important player for us, but if he isn't there, Palhinha will be another member of the squad supporting us. We are going to play with eleven players and we are going to fight for the victory."

The Sporting CP coach was also asked about the match between Belenenses SAD and SL Benfica, which featured the home side being unable to field 11 players due to positive COVID-19 tests and the game eventually being abandoned.

 “It is a strange situation. Sporting CP have already said so in a statement. It cannot happen again, and we have to find a solution. We can't be having big European nights and then messing things up. Everyone saw it. It was all very strange.”

A 2-0 home win against CD Tondela prepares the team for the derby

Sporting Clube de Portugal bested CD Tondela 2-0 at home on Matchday 12 of the Liga Portugal season, making them the outright leaders in the league table.

Four days after the victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, the team returned to the Estádio José Alvalade with a changed starting XI: Rúben Amorim made three adjustments, fielding Antonio Adán, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates , Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos, Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves.

Gonçalo Inácio provided the first warning to the opposition, just two minutes into the game, with a shot from outside the area, but ended up not troubling goalkeeper Trigueira.

However, soon after, on 10 minutes, a clever team move led to a shot by Paulinho in the box. Luís Neto turned the intercepted ball over to Pablo Sarabia, and the Spanish international, beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. The goal would stand after a VAR check revealed that a CD Tondela defender has touched the ball after Luís Neto.

Sporting CP were in front and controlling the game, but a CD Tondela side weakened by absences due to positive COVID-19 tests showed that they were not going to make it easy. They responded with a shot by Dadashov and another by Rafael Barbosa -a former Sporting CP youth player.

In the second half, Os Leões regrouped and focused on getting a second goal. A first chance of the period fell to Sarabia, but it was Paulinho who made it 2-0; A combination between Sarabia and Nuno Santos saw the former shooting and Trigueira parrying, with Pedro Gonçalves collecting the rebound to set up Paulinho.

A first substitution led to Daniel Bragança replacing Matheus Nunes, before Pedro Gonçalves forced Trigueira to make a good save, as well as deny Sarabia on the follow-up.

In the 67th minute, Amorim made three changes at once, as João Palhinha, Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos made way for Manuel Ugarte, Tiago Tomás and Flávio Nazinho -the latter having made his debut in the Champions League in midweek.

In the last twenty minutes, Antonio Adán was also called upon to intervene, denying the visiting team a consolation goal. He kept out an effort from Rafael Barbosa off a direct freekick.

The team took a comfortable win that sets them up well for the Derby da Capital, which takes place on Friday against SL Benfica at the Estádio da Luz.

The coach's briefing for the game against CD Tondela

This Sunday, Sporting Clube de Portugal welcome CD Tondela on Matchday 12 of the Liga Portugal season, and coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference ahead of the contest.

"We want to read the game very well. We know the danger that we face," he warned. "CD Tondela have had time to prepare the game, and come to Alvalade motivated. We have to be even more motivated, knowing that one result can spoil all that we have been doing; that's why we play for a big club. We want to maintain our position and that's what we'll try to do."

Asked about the COVID-19 cases in the CD Tondela squad, which include their coach, Pako Ayestarán, Amorim commented that "it is always a difficult moment, but the teams are prepared. It's always better to have the coach with the team. The impact of having COVID-19 cases in the squad, whether it be the coach or players, is always unpleasant. I hope that he recovers quickly. However, they have already been working for more than a year with this coaching staff, and they will be prepared for the game," he said.

One player who will be available to CD Tondela, on loan from Sporting CP, is Eduardo Quaresma, and the Sporting CP coach has been keeping an eye on the young defender: "Quaresma had the opportunity here and we understood that he should play regularly. He's making progress on his own path, and we really believe in him. He has to improve and work hard to do well and return to Sporting CP."

In the last fixture, against Borussia Dortmund, Amorim handed a debut to Flávio Nazinho, who indicated that "signs and experience are being given to the players so that, in the future, they can be part of the first team. It is part of our project and we hope that, after [Flávio] Nazinho, many others will come through."

After the CD Tondela game, Sporting CP will visit SL Benfica, but Amorim emphasised that this is not the focus at the moment.

"I know my players. They know that an influence the CD Tondela game will have on my starting XI for the next game. It's the biggest motivation they can have. I trust everyone, and anyone who doesn't play well against CD Tondela won't play against SL Benfica. All it takes is a draw to destroy everything we've built in recent months. We have to win. If a bad result happens against CD Tondela, but the team give everything, then there is no problem. If we behave in a way which is not in line with the greatness of Sporting CP, then players could lose their places."

Finally, Amorim was clear in response to rumors about his future.

"I'm coach at Sporting CP, I have a contract with Sporting CP, and I'm very happy at Sporting CP. This is where I shall continue."

The coach reacts to the win against Dortmund

In the moments following the 3-1 triumph against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim called the performance by his side "close to perfection".

"We still had some flaws in a very difficult game, but the players' mutual help for each other and the way they read the game were perfect", he said at the post-match press conference.

“If we had lost and were in the UEFA Europa League, I would say the same thing. The road is very long, but we have gained a financial income that helps us and we are in the Round of 16. There are going to be some very difficult games and we could experience a big disappointment, but we have to focus on the path we have to take and the fact that we can play in the Champions League again and have a financial boost. Of course, I'm very happy for the players and with the growth they have made during this competition, so congratulations to them for a great game", he stressed.

As for the match, Amorim said: “We were much better offensively than we had been in Germany and we showed more quality. Besides that, we defended equally well, as Dortmund didn't have that many chances. We didn't slow things down because we wanted to, but because the game required that. The players understood the moments of the game. We had little of the ball, but we adapted and had a good game in that aspect".
 
As for the opponents who could meet them in the next stage, the coach admitted that there are teams that "I hope don't get drawn against Sporting CP".

“Let's see if we're lucky in the draw -and when I say luck, I'm talking about teams that match our system. There are certain teams I would prefer to meet, but I won't say which ones. Now what I want is for us to beat CD Tondela, and then SL Benfica".

Amorim also thanked the Sportinguistas, who turned out in force at a sold out Alvalade. “When we walked around the stadium at the end of the game and were applauded, it was remarkable. Many thanks to the fans for the way they support the team. Much of the growth we have made during this competition was due to our state of mind, and we know that the Sportinguistas are with us. Since I signed for this club, I have felt like a Sportinguista".

Finally, he also commented on the performance of Pedro Gonçalves, who was decisive with a brace. 

“He had gone seven games without scoring, but he is a player with a special instinct for a goal. He has to continue like this, because he has a great future ahead of him", he concluded.

The scorer of a brace talks about the win in the Champions League

Pedro Gonçalves was the Man Of The Match against Borussia Dortmund, scoring twice for Sporting CP. He spoke to the media after the game to give his thoughts on a big European night.

“Scoring was important for the team and for the club. I'm proud to have scored these two goals. I felt like I wasn't doing well in the game, but I did what I know best, which is to score, and I'm very happy about that," he began by saying, adding: "Qualifying for the Round of 16 is an honour for the club and for the fans who came to the stadium today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart".

The goalscorer then downplayed the fact that he missed a second half penalty -turned in by Pedro Porro on the rebound- stressing that the main objective of victory was achieved.

“Over the past season and the current campaign, I got used to scoring braces many times, but the hat trick is still elusive. I'm very happy with the victory by the team, which was the most important thing”, he stressed, revealing that he always dreamed of such a moment.

"Everyone knows what the UEFA Champions League means; it's the best competition in Europe. I'm very happy to have got here, through a lot of dedication and hard work, and I hope I don't stop at this”, he said.

'Pote' also praised the Sportinguistas, who sold out the Estádio José Alvalade.

“We feel extremely strong when they are present. In matches where the stadium is not so full, they are missed as they often push us on.We are very happy to have the fans with us and I hope they will continue to support us, because we are here to dignify the club and always do our best for them”, he assured.

Next up for the team is a return to Liga Portugal action this weekend, and Gonçalves says: “We are already thinking about the next game, which will be against CD Tondela. Before the Round of 16 we still have matches in the two cups, and that's what we're going to focus on. It's about going game by game. We are ready for everythin”.

A 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund provides a place in the Champions League knockout stage

Sporting Clube de Portugal booked their ticket for the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League by beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on Matchday 5 in Group C. A brace from Pedro Gonçalves and a further strike from Pedro Porro earned the team a tenth consecutive victory in all competitions, and qualification for the knockout stages with a game to spare.

 At a packed Estádio José Alvalade, Rúben Amorim made a change to bring back Sebastián Coates from injury into the starting lineup. Borussia Dortmund were without several key members of their squad, such as Haaland, Hummels and Thorgan Hazard.

The two teams cancelled each other out in the initial stages of the match, limiting any chances as the contest developed into an intense fight in the centre of the park.
After half an hour, Coates hit a long ball upfield to the attack, reaching Pedro Gonçalves, who took advantage of a mistake by the defence to break free, go one-on-one with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and slide the ball past him to make it 1-0.

Soon after, Borussia Dortmund responded with a shot that hit the post, but Sporting CP got back on top with several attacks. They bore fruit in the 39th minute, when 'Pote' scored his second goal with an excellent shot from outside the area.

2-0 up at the interval, Sporting CP had a strong start to the second period, as Pablo Sarabia forced a good save from the opposing keeper after a pass by Pedro Gonçalves. and The Germans would have a goal eventually disallowed due to offside in the immediate aftermath.

Dortmund became more active in attack, with Sporting CP switching to a more compact style, waiting for fast transitions.

Ricardo Esgaio and Nuno Santos were brought on in the initial two substitutions, as the game got ever more intense. A turning point then arrived when Emre Can was sent off, leaving the visitors down to ten men.

Sporting CP capped the scoring when the referee blew for a penalty for a foul on Paulinho in the 80th minute; Gonçalves failed to convert, but Porro burst in to head in the rebound to take the score to 3-0.
 
Malen got a consolation goal for Dortmund before the end, whilst Sporting CP youth product, the 18 year old Flávio Nazinho, came on for Pedro Gonçalves to make his debut in the other good news from the night.

With nine points to their name, Sporting CP are through to the Last 16 before their away fixture against Ajax on December 7th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Pedro Porro (Manuel Ugarte, 88'), Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal, Matheus Reis (Ricardo Esgaio, 67'), João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Pablo Sarabia ( Nuno Santos, 67'), Pedro Gonçalves (Flávio Nazinho, 88') and Paulinho (Tiago Tomás, 86').

​Words from the centre back before a crunch clash with Borussia Dortmund

Sporting CP defender Zouhair Feddal spoke on Tuesday in the press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.

The centre back rejected the idea that defensive consistency could be the key for Os Leões to achieve victory, stressing that the team always act as a whole.

“We always work both offensively and defensively, and we have a very compact block. The strength of our group is that we are a family and we always transmit this on the pitch. We are going into a very important game, after having achieved two good results. We have been growing in this competition, and it is a dream for us to compete in it", he began by saying.

 The Moroccan is one yellow card away from suspension in European competition, but stated that this would not affect the way that he approaches the match.

“Everyone always wants to play, but tomorrow we have a very important game for Sporting CP. We will play with motivation and desire. We're going to be up against great opposition and I hope I don't get a yellow card, but first I have to see if I play", he said before emphasising that the team are focused only on winning the match.

"We aren't thinking about celebrating going into the Round of 16, but rather on starting the game well and achieving our objective. There are three points available, just like any other game, but it's very important. We're only going to be focused on the game”.

Feddal also commented that he was very happy to be playing his debut season in the UEFA Champions League. “Over time I realised that I was right when I made the decision to come to Sporting CP, because the club gave me the opportunity to play in this competition. It's a dream for any child, and shows that dreams do come true. Fortunately, I managed to achieve this objective".

​The coach looks ahead to the game against Borussia Dortmund

Sporting Clube de Portugal will face Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday at the Estádio José Alvalade, on Matchday 5 of Group C of the UEFA Champions League. The team have the opportunity to guarantee a place in the Round of 16 of the competition.

Rúben Amorim, the Sporting CP coach, explained in his pre-match press conference that he was confident of getting a positive result after a good performance in the previous meeting in Germany, but asked for more from the team.

“I believe we can always do more and better. We have always said that we are in this competition to go through to the next stage, aware of the difference in experience. Borussia Dortmund were singled out as favourites in the group, but AFC Ajax did very well and are clearly the best team in the group at the moment. Nevertheless, despite Borussia Dortmund being used to decisive moments, we are going to go into  tomorrow's game to compete", he opened by saying.

“In the game in Germany we did well defensively, but offensively we have to be much better, because we need the result. It's not the case that because we were defeated in this game, I don't believe we can win. We will do our best to win the game”, he assured.

 “If we have to defend, we defend, and if we have to counterattack, then that's what we're going to do. There were stages in the game in Germany where we had the ball, but we weren't very aggressive in attack. That was the observation we made to the players this week: We can have the ball and be more aggressive when we vary our play".

As for the team that he will pick, Amorim revealed that "We have almost the entire squad available, except for Rúben Vinagre and Jovane Cabral, which gives us more solutions. I'm expecting a team prepared for every moment, knowing that we can have the ball and control things at certain times. Borussia Dortmund will definitely try to push us into our own area, but we are strong at defending”.

Amorim also played down the absences in the opposing squad, which will not be missing big names like Erling Haaland, Mats Hummels and Thorgan Hazard.

“At the beginning of the competition we had several players out injured, and I didn't pay attention to that aspect then either. We will face Borussia Dortmund, who still have players like Bellingham, Witsel, Marco Reus, Donyell Malen and Raphaël Guerreiro. They are a great team that are used to these occasions and are one point behind FC Bayern München in the Bundesliga, despite all these players who are out. They have more than enough players to change the team around when they need it. Borussia Dortmund have the capacity to win at the Alvalade, but we know that we can win too. They will always be the best Borussia, just like we are always the best Sporting CP, no matter which players play”, he considered.

In closing, the coach also stressed that Sporting CP have made progress in the Champions League.

“We grew a lot, but we were also the team that had more room to evolve. The games against Beşiktaş JK helped, as did those in the league and us bringing back certain players. The scenario is different now, and much of our attacking improvement comes from the psychological side. That's what we're going to try to do tomorrow, knowing it's a decisive game".

“We're going to throw ourselves into the game with a lot of heart, but also a cool head”.

Gonçalves strikes twice in a 2-1 win over Varzim SC

A return to action after the international break saw Sporting Clube de Portugal edge past Varzim SC in the Taça de Portugal, with a 2-1 win taking them through to the Round of 16. A brace from Pedro Gonçalves included a late strike that put the team back in front, and earned a ninth consecutive victory for the side.

As is customary in the cup, coach Rúben Amorim changed six players from the starting XI against Paços de Ferreira: João Virgínia, Gonçalo Esteves, Zouhair Feddal, Daniel Bragança, Bruno Tabata and Jovane Cabral all began the match, with Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio and Sebastián Coates all out of the squad entirely, and João Palhinha,

Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Gonçalves on the bench. Rúben Vinagre, Manuel Ugarte and Tiago Tomás (with tonsillitis) were missing, with André Paulo and José Marsá included in the squad.

Varzim SC had already eliminated top flight side CS Marítimo in the competition, but were on the back foot against Sporting CP from the start. Width on the wings was the main weapon for the home team, as Varzim SC packed the midfield.

The visitors did, however, create a good opportunity on a quick transition, albeit safely defended by the back line. Sporting CP's first chance was in the 25th minute, when Tabata fired a shot from a distance that Ismael Lekbab had to keep out, before also needing to fly across to prevent a Bragança strike.

In a frantic finale to the first half, Jovane hit the crossbar with a direct free kick, with Matheus Reis missing the rebound. In a one-on-one, an inspired Lekbab got the better of Matheus Nunes; and Virgínia also caught a dangerous shot from Zé Ferreira to keep things 0-0 at half time.

Right at the start of the second half, after Tabata couldn't find a finish inside the area, Matheus Reis rushed in and shot straight at Lekbab.

On 57 minutes, Jovane would go off injured, with Pedro Gonçalves on  to replace him. It was he who finally broke the deadlock, ten minutes after his introduction: In the right place at the right time, he chased a loose ball in the six yard box and made it 1-0 with a poke across the line.

However, in the 77th minute, a Varzim SC side who had not yet caused danger in the second half won a penalty and Heliardo levelled.

Os Leões looked for the advantage again, and pushed the visiting team further and further back. With less than five minutes remaining, Porro was brought down in the area, and this time around it was Gonçalves who elected to take the spot kick. He stood firm, and converted to seal a 2-1 win.

The team will be in action at the Estádio José Alvalade again next Wednesday, November 24th (8pm), in an important UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GR], Gonçalo Esteves (Pedro Porro 67'), Ricardo Esgaio, Zouhair Feddal, Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos (Luís Neto 89'), Daniel Bragança [C], Matheus Nunes, Bruno Tabata (Pablo Sarabia 67'), Jovane Cabral (Pedro Gonçalves 57') and Paulinho.