The coach previews the trip to Moreirense FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal go to Moreirense FC this Thursday for their next game in Liga Portugal, and João Pereira talked before the match in the press conference.

"Moreirense FC are going through a good phase. They haven't lost at home yet. We remain leaders, with the best defence and the best attack, and we want to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible. That's our focus and what we want to do in the next game," he began telling journalists.

Asked about possible pressure, he said "I have my objectives well defined. When I started out with the Under-23s I wanted to do the best job possible and I continue to not let myself get complacent. I don't make it easy for myself, and I'm always looking for the best."

"What happened over four years doesn't change in a week. I feel the players are confident, they are behind the coaching staff and the club and want to get back on track. We lost to CD Santa Clara, it's true, but we had more shots and possession. We had more chances, but we should have created more," he continued.

Regarding a possible conversation with the team after the loss to CD Santa Clara, Pereira said that he spoke with the players "as I do every week: To prepare the game in the best way. Of course it is much better to win than to lose , but I don't change according to which way the wind blows. And we had to be prepared for that. We already knew that, if we won, everything would be normal."

After revealing that Eduardo Quaresma is not 100% fit and that Franco Israel is still ill, the coach emphasised that whoever replaced Rúben Amorim would always have a complicated task on their hands.

"He was one of the best coaches in the history of Sporting CP. He took over at Sporting CP at a certain time and, four and a half years later, Sporting CP are now much better. Of course the legacy weighs heavy, but if I had been afraid of that, I would have said no to the job and wouldn't be here," he assured.

"The dressing room is cohesive and everyone wants to go in the same direction. Nobody wants to win more than us and we are motivated. We know it was a big change, but the players are confident. You have to try to take away any anxiety they may have of wanting to resolve things quickly, and everything will get better," he concluded .

The squad look ahead to the meeting with Moreirense FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to training this Tuesday morning, preparing for the trip to Moreirense FC.

The game in Moreira de Cónegos, on Liga Portugal Matchday 13, is scheduled for 8:15 pm on Thursday at the Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

The squad will train again this Wednesday morning, with the pre-match press conference taking place at 1pm at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.

The coach talks about the adverse result against CD Santa Clara

João Pereira talked about the 0-1 defeat to CD Santa Clara in his post-match press conference, saying that Sporting CP deserved a different result against a defensive team.

“In the first half we lacked speed with our movement of the ball, and concentration when it came to scoring a goal. In the second half we were very anxious in our search for goals, because we really wanted to win, but rushing doesn't help us do things in the best way. Even so, we had many opportunities, we were unable to score and CD Santa Clara had two and scored once”, the coach explained.

"We could have scored one or two goals, there were moves there in the six-yard-box in the first half in that we could have scored, and if we had scored first then CD Santa Clara would have opened up a little more and possibly given us more opportunities, but it didn't happen, we conceded first and that's what we have to work on. When a low block doesn’t open up, we will have to be able to penetrate it and score more goals”.

Asked if the result was due to a lack of confidence on the part of his players, Pereira stated: “We had opportunities; they were not clear opportunities, but it's far from being a crisis. We completely dominated the game, there is no doubt about that, and there is no crisis at all”.

“We've had two defeats, but nothing will shake our spirit and our will to achieve our aims. I feel that we will turn things around and give a worthy response”.

Asked about some questionable decisions by the referee, he responded by saying: “I don’t comment on the refereeing. We have to be cold in our analysis and know that we have to create more chances, be more consistent and score goals. We lacked effectiveness and creating more opportunities. We have to create many more than we did”.

The coach also spoke about the support of the Sportinguistas.

“What I felt was support, and I even remember in the 82nd minute, the whole stadium was supporting and singing. The fans supported us from start to finish, but it's normal that after two defeats they want to show their discontent”.

A 0-1 loss to CD Santa Clara comes despite dominance in play

Sporting Clube de Portugal suffered their first league defeat of the season on Matchday 12, losing 0-1 at home to CD Santa Clara.

The first and fourth placed teams faced each other, with Sporting CP fielding Vladan Kovačević, Zeno Debast, Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis, Geovany Quenda, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand, Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres and Marcus Edwards in their first XI.

High pressure was present from the beginning, with the game being played in the midfield and in the CD Santa Clara area during the opening minutes. The first shot on goal came from  Gyökeres, receiving from Trincão, but on the half-turn he shot wide of the goal. Minutes later, in another attacking move by Sporting CP, Catamo was pulled back in the area, but the referee firmly waved off the penalty appeal.

Then followed minutes of less attractive football, with several fouls and stoppages, but, once the rhythm had recovered, Sporting CP once again attacked. Reis' shot from inside the penalty area, after a pass from Edwards, went wide, then Trincão missed a header from the Englishman's delivery.

Trincão looked at goal again with a shot from the edge of the area, but the ball was intercepted, whilst from the resulting corner the opposition managed a clearance.

Hjulmand shot wide as the opportunities continued, but Sporting CP were made to pay for their profligacy. Faced with some passivity from the home team, CD Santa Clara opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area.

Bragança managed to give Gabriel Batista trouble and Quenda shot over the crossbar before the end of the half, but the game went into the interval with the score at 0-1.

Conrad Harder and Maxi Araújo started to warm up right after the break and entered at the beginning of the second half, with Edwards and Quenda going off. Catamo moved to the right wing and the Uruguayan international went to the left.

Os Leões were having difficulty finding spaces and causing danger, but Catamo and Gyökeres still kept Gabriel Batista busy.

Pereira also tested Kovačević with another CD Santa Clara shot from distance, but the goalkeeper was attentive and held onto the ball.

On the hour, two more changes were made by Sporting CP, with the departures of Debast and Reis, as Gonçalo Inácio and Jeremiah St. Juste were introduced.

In the 70th minute, the equaliser was in sight, but Gyökeres' header went wide. Minutes later, a corner for Sporting CP ended with Diomande heading over.

Less than 15 minutes from time, Hidemasa Morita replaced Hjulmand and the chances continued for the team, with Batista making a save and a penalty given for a foul on Araújo being reversed by VAR.

With less than ten minutes to play, time was running out for Sporting CP, and CD Santa Clara continued to stop the game frequently. They tried to make it 0-2 with another shot from distance, but Kovačević kept the effort out.

St. Juste was off target with another header following a free kick, and the goal would not come for Sporting CP. They lost the game 0-1.

Os Leões, who will face CD Santa Clara again on December 18th in the Round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, will play again next Thursday, in Moreira de Cónegos, against Moreirense.

The coach previews the game against CD Santa Clara

Sporting Clube de Portugal host CD Santa Clara on Matchday 12 of the Liga Portugal season this Saturday, and coach João Pereira talked in the pre-match press conference prior to the fixture.

He began by revealing Zeno Debast will be available, then addressed the opponents.

"CD Santa Clara are the breakout team in the league. They are very organised defensively, strong in offensive transitions and solid tactically. We have tried to prepare the players in the best possible way to achieve victory", he stated.

"I am carrying out my work with the technical committee, and we try to do everything we can to win. Coaches are always judged by results. If we win tomorrow, things will go better, but I'm calm", he commented.

Speaking about tactical options and the similarities between the system he likes most and the one Rúben Amorim used, Pereira explained that "It's a system that I adopt out of conviction. Anyone who had the opportunity to follow the Under-23s and the B team knew that it was the formation we used, but with different behaviours. There are many identical and similar principles. The players understand. What happened against Arsenal was a defeat, but in the second half, until the penalty, we were always closer to making it 2-3 than it becoming 1-4, because we had opportunities to do so. The story would have been different then", he recalled.

Regarding the left of the attack, occupied by Marcus Edwards against Arsenal, the coach admitted that "there are several players in the squad who can play in that position", but emphasised his confidence in the Englishman.

"Conrad Harder has already played there, Maxi Araújo too, João Simões and Daniel Bragança can also play there. I pick my side based on the characteristics of the game. I felt that Edwards was the best option against Arsenal and I still trust in him".

Finally, after confirming that João Simões will again be present in the squad, Pereira spoke of his approach to games.

"The first big test was against Amarante FC, which was the first game for this technical committee. Against Arsenal it was another big game, and now with CD Santa Clara it will be the same. Then it will be with Moreirense FC too. The big game is always the next one. That's how we have to think".

The coach summarises the defeat to Arsenal

After the defeat for Sporting Clube de Portugal against Arsenal, coach João Pereira spoke in a press conference about the contest.

"The first 20 minutes of the second half, until the penalty, were positive. There was a great reaction from the players after it was 0-3. We adjusted, at halftime, what we had to do in terms of pressure. We made it 1-3, and we could have made it 2-3, but when we conceded the fourth, everything became more difficult", he began by telling journalists at the Artur Agostinho Auditorium.

"The fans were fantastic. They were with the team from the first minute to the last and it's up to us to give them a response to compensate them for this result", he said.

The new incumbent in the dugout also guaranteed that the result "will not have an impact" on the team's work.

"These were three points dropped and it is a heavy defeat, even more so with it coming at home, but we have to react in Saturday's game against CD Santa Clara. It was a bad start to the game for us, heavily influenced by the goal that we conceded very early. I take responsibility for the defeat. I was the one who prepared the tactics and put the players on the pitch. The support from the stands was the most important thing, as they know the players are good and we feel they are with us", he added.

Finally, Pereira stated that "What I can promise is the maximum daily work to continue making Sporting CP a winning club".

The team lose 1-5 at home to Arsenal

Sporting Clube de Portugal their first setback in the UEFA Champions League, losing 1-5 at home to Arsenal on Matchday 5 of the league phase.

At a sold-out Estádio José Alvalade, the coaching staff made several changes to the starting lineup, with Franco Israel, Ousmane Diomande, Geovany Quenda, Hidemasa Morita, Maxi Araújo and Viktor Gyökeres returning.

The first half was tough for Sporting CP. Arsenal started well, with a very high press, and managed to open the scoring after just seven minutes: Jurriën Timber's pass from the right passed through the defence in the area before reaching Gabriel Martinelli, who only had to tap it in.

Sporting CP tried to react and Maxi Araújo produced a beautiful move, placing the ball in the heart of the area, but no teammate was on hand to take the shot. After that, it was Geovany Quenda's turn to cross dangerously -Timber cutting it out for a corner.

After a shot from Arsenal's Thomas Partey, saved comfortably by Franco Israel, the visitors made it 0-2 through Kai Havertz with an assist from Bukayo Saka.

Israel made another stop from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice shot wide, as the Gunners continued to cause problems.

Maxi Araújo created another chance for Sporting CP when he recovered the ball and advanced upfield to set up Geovany Quenda, but the youngster's shot with his weaker foot was saved by David Raya for a corner.

Arsenal scored again just before the half-time whistle, this time from a corner kick from Rice, headed in by Gabriel Magalhães.

Sporting CP came out determined for the second half, and on 47 minutes, Hidemasa Morita shot from the 'D', pulling a save from David Raya.

In the corner kick that followed, Francisco Trincão dropped the ball into the area and Gonçalo Inácio shot to score, reducing the defecit to 1-3.

Motivated by the goal, Sporting CP put Arsenal on the ropes and had several opportunities in the moments that followed. From a free kick, Viktor Gyökeres struck wide and Marcus Edwards, in an attack that combined a cross and a shot, forced Raya to intervene again.

Jeremiah St. Juste also caused trouble for the opposing goalkeeper with a header, and both Edwards and Gyökeres shot wide on other occasions. However, against the run of play, Arsenal won a penalty and Saka converted to make it 1-4.

Sporting CP didn't give up and continued to search for goal. Gyökeres, in the 67th minute, had a deflected shot end up in the goalkeeper's hands. Soon after, Daniel Bragança and Geny Catamo came on in place of Edwards and Araújo.

In the 73rd minute, Morten Hjulmand's shot was kept out by Raya. Trincão also threatened with a shot that was deflected out for a corner.

The final goal was conceded late on. Israel saved Mikel Merino's first shot, but Leandro Trossard appeared on the follow-up to convert the rebound.

Sporting CP could have scored again in the 86th minute, when substitute Conrad Harder played through Gyökeres at speed for the striker to beat two opponents, before firing hard at the post.

A 1-5 defeat ended an unbeaten run in the Champions League. They will now host CD Santa Clara in Liga Portugal on Saturday.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 88'), Geovany Quenda, Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Conrad Harder, 77'), Maxi Araújo (Geny Catamo, 67'), Francisco Trincão (João Simões, 88'), Marcus Edwards (Daniel Bragança, 67') and Viktor Gyökeres.

The winger prepares for the match in the Champions League

Francisco Trincão was the player chosen to preview Sporting Clube de Portugal's game against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, addressing the media on Monday.

The Portuguese international echoed coach João Pereira's words, saying that it won't be an easy game, but that Sporting CP know what they have to do.

“We ended up studying the last game we played against them, because Arsenal FC haven't changed much from then to now. However, of course there are differences; because the players have changed and we are also looking a lot at the individual qualities of the new players."

Trincão spoke after the first days of working with this new coaching staff, praising them and talking in particular about Pereira.

“He is very similar to Rúben Amorim. He has the same ideas, and only a few nuances change, but he manages to motivate us equally well and even the schedules they use are very similar. I hope everything goes well."

“Of course they are different people, but the communication is quite good. He is also very playful with us and everything has been very easy for us so far.”
Also talking about the season in individual terms, the winger expressed satisfaction with what he has managed to do.

“The season has been good for me personally, but I want to help, whether that be with goals, assists or in the attacking and defensive process, which is what I have been doing. I am very happy here, everyone knows that, and this is my club.”

The Sporting CP coach talks before the game against Arsenal

Ahead of his first UEFA Champions League game in charge, against Arsenal, João Pereira highlighted that Sporting CP are prepared to continue their good run in the competition.

“The level will increase, the degree of difficulty will be greater, but we are prepared. Arsenal have seven points, having only conceded one goal -and that was a penalty. They are a strong team defensively and will create many difficulties for us with their attacking moves, in which they are very strong," Pereira began by saying, adding: “Arsenal have good players, good individuals, are strong on the wings, create many opportunities and score many goals, but I am more concerned with and focused on our structure. We also have great players, who are having a fantastic campaign in the Champions League and who will want to continue giving a good response."

Eduardo Quaresma and Zeno Debast did not train on Monday and are in doubt for the match, but the coach did not close the door on the possibility of them playing.

“They both have small knocks and will be in doubt until the start of the game, but if they are not fit, we have other players ready to respond," he assured.

He clarified that Sporting CP will play as they have done until now, with small differences after Rúben Amorim's departure.

“Removing Sporting CP's identity would mean taking away the identity of the players, and taking away from them what they are used to doing. We know that we won't be able to press the entire game all over the pitch, because it's difficult and you can't even do that in Portugal. There will be moments when the opponents will have more possession of the ball and we will have to close the spaces well and choose the right moment to break out from the pressure. We know very well that Arsenal are a team that will cause us problems, but we want to continue having good games and scoring a lot of goals.”

“Anyone who was paying attention to the B team knows that this team used a similar formation to the main team. There were different behaviour or nuances, but the principles were the same. We are lucky to be taking over team that already have the principles we have used, but it takes time. The players are in good form, they understand things well and anything that changes will be for the better, but it will come little by little," he said.

“Taking into account what Sporting CP had been doing before the game with Manchester City, the players were already aiming to reach the playoffs. It was a morale-boosting victory, which helped a lot, but it only gave us three points and, therefore, everyone has their feet firmly on the ground and knows that the game against Arsenal will be different."

“The objectives are defined from the beginning of the season. We are well positioned, we have a game tomorrow and at the end we will do the maths, knowing that there are still four games to go.”

In his first press conference, Pereira was also asked about the possibility of Viktor Gyökeres further attracting the interest of other European clubs, but he stated that he is not worried about that.

“I hope that Viktor has a great performance and can score a lot of goals."

Sporting CP best Amarante FC at home

Sporting Clube de Portugal guaranteed their place in the Round of 16 of the Taça de Portugal, beating Amarante FC 6-0 in the fourth round of the competition.

It was the first game between the two teams since the 1979/80 season, and also the first for Sporting CP's new coaching staff.

The starting XI consisted of Vladan Kovačević, Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand, Iván Fresneda, Marcus Edwards, Conrad Harder and Francisco Trincão.

Sporting CP started to threaten Amarante FC's goal early and opened the scoring after just ten minutes: Daniel Bragança set through Marcus Edwards and the Englishman, after running a few metres and beating several opponents in the area, shot beautifully to make it 1-0.

The second goal came five minutes later, with another assist from Bragança. He crossed low to the centre of the penalty area for Ricardo Esgaio to convert.

This made the task more complicated for the Liga 3 side, who did get into the Sporting CP area minutes after the second goal, although Matheus Reis was alert and removed the danger.

Francisco Trincão took a shot from the middle, saved by goalkeeper Didi was attentive and met the effort. A second shot by Trincão then hit the post, with Conrad Harder failing to score on the rebound.

Less than a minute later, it was 3-0: Trincão took advantage of a defensive error and teed up the unmarked Harder, who shot across through the traffic and into the net.

They took the score to 4-0 before the break: Bragança crossed from the right to the back post, and Marcus Edwards just had to get a touch to turn it in..

Geovany Quenda and Hidemasa Morita came on at the start of the second half, replacing Jeremiah St. Juste and Morten Hjulmand. Esgaio moved back to the middle, with Sporting CP putting pressure on and focusing on the opposition area. Harder's first opportunity saw him shoot way over the top, but the second chance was scored by Trincão, combining with Harder to make it 5-0.

Trincão then tried to score with a somewhat acrobatic shot from the edge of the area, but the Amarante FC defense scrambled it away.

In the 66th minute, Viktor Gyökeres and 17-year-old debutant João Simões came on for Trincão and Gonçalo Inácio.

At the start of the last fifteen minutes, another debut was handed to 19-year-old Henrique Arreiol, who replaced Bragança, and soon after Gyökeres' first shot, from a free kick, hit the woodwork.

Minutes later, another dead ball saw the Swede hit the same post, this time after a slight deflection off the wall.

Sporting CP rounded off the scoring with a penalty in the 89th minute, converted by Gyökeres to take the final score to 6-0.

The team now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League, where they meet Arsenal at home on Tuesday night.