The Sporting CP coach is wary of the Matchday 23 opponents

On the eve of Saturday's Liga NOS match against CD Tondela, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim underlined the home performances of the opposition, describing them as "a different side when they play at home."

“They have five victories in a row and feel very comfortable at their home ground. They are the sixth best team in the league in this respect. They have different performance -not in the way they play, but in intensity- and even the quality of their play is different," warned Amorim.

"We have to focus on what we have been doing, because we have a lot to improve. CD Tondela could use the same formation as us, and their coach has already said that he could employ a lower block.”

The Sporting CP coach added that “knowing that we have had some difficulties in the final third, that is exactly what we have worked on during the week. We are prepared, we know the quality of the three up top for CD Tondela -even after João Pedro's arrival- and we have to be very careful with their transitions. Nevertheless, the focus is on maintaining defensive quality and improving in attack. I think we are going to have a better game in that aspect."

He revealed that Paulinho "will be back soon, but for this game he is not yet fit," and reacted to the news of a possible return of fans to stadiums in the second half of April or first week of May.

“This team have showed a way of playing with which the fans identify. I would like to have the fans back with us already. We will still need them a lot, because there is still a long way to go this season, many points will still be lost and they will be a decisive factor. Contrary to what people think, Sporting CP fans will still help this team a lot,” he concluded.