The coach wants his side to turn their attention to Boavista FC

With Sporting CP back in action on Tuesday against Boavista FC, Rúben Amorim looked ahead to the game in his pre-match press conference.

This meeting is the team's first game since winning the Taça da Liga, but the coach says that the weekend achievement is "already in the past".

“It was a very good trophy win, which had a very important feeling about it that day, but which now doesn't have any bearing on us. This achievement is part of the past and tomorrow we will have a very difficult game against a team that, despite their position in the table, are led by a great coach and are full of good players”, he warned.

"We have to forget about the Taça da Liga and focus on this game. We have to be prepared and I know that we are".

Boavista FC have a series of absentees in defence for this match, but Amorim is sure that they will prove to be challenging opponents.

“The players missing in defence is not the reason Boavista FC might lose the game. There are other alternatives, like Javi Garcia and Rami, who are World Cup winners."

“We are going to look at Boavista FC as a whole. They will certainly play against Sporting CP without the responsibility they had in other games and will put all their quality on the pitch. They have nothing to lose, so we have to be prepared for that”, he said.

Still top of the Liga NOS table, Sporting have experienced some minor stumbles as of late, but Amorim emphasized that their position is not down to luck.

“We have flaws in certain points in our play, but we have managed to win. I can't remember a game in which the opponents were clearly superior to us. It is a mix of everything: Competence, good fortune at times, the quality of the entire team and the spirit that has been helping in the most difficult moments”.

Amorim is waiting to see what his sanction will be for his sending off - along with SC Braga coach Carlos Carvalhal - in the Taça da Liga final, but believes the appeal will be successful.

“Our expulsion was a mistake. I don't expect any punishment, let alone a heavy suspension".