The team take on Belenenses SAD on Saturday

This Friday, Rúben Amorim previewed the match against Belenenses SAD, scheduled for Saturday at 8:30pm local time at the Estádio José Alvalade. The coach explained that he is wary of the opposition, having crossed paths with them on several occasions.

“We know the Belenenses SAD team well and their coach also knows us well. We play the same way, whilst Belenenses SAD have changed a little this year: They play with two strikers and three midfielders. There is a striker, Ndour, whom they didn't have last year, who is very strong in space, tall, has good technique and is very dangerous, so we have to be careful about that".

"Cassierra remains a very strong player between the lines; Afonso Sousa played up front before, but dropped back to operate more as a third midfielder. Some of their players left and others have joined", he analysed.

"We have to be very strong. The concern is our team. We are in good form, but Belenenses SAD have always caused us a lot of problems. Last season, we won at Jamor rather unjustly, because Belenenses SAD were the better side in that game, but at Alvalade it was a completely different story. Despite the 2-2 result, we were superior to them, and now we want to do that again with a better result”.

With his entire squad available, Amorim did not reveal his starting XI, nor did he say whether Nuno Mendes would return to his initial lineup.

“He has been called up to the squad and is an option for tomorrow's game. Afterwards, you will soon see who is chosen. What matters is that we have two good players for his position. What we feel is the best solution for this game will be the player that we use", he asserted.

"Having every player at my disposal increases the intensity of training. The competition between everybody is very healthy, but it is palpable. By increasing the competitiveness of training, I'm sure the quality of our play in games will also increase. It is an important factor for us to be stronger".

With the availability of all of his players also comes some selection headaches, but Amorim dismissed this being a problem.

“Managing the dressing room is very easy. It's harder for the coach to leave someone out when they have such quality and are working well, but the players already know me and I'm clear about things: More than the last game, there's the next game to think about, the characteristics of this game and the week prior to it. The week in the run-up to the match is decisive and they know this. Sometimes I find it hard to leave out somebody that is working just as hard as others, but they are other options. They are all prepared for this. There are games for everyone to play in and it depends more on them than on the coach".

As the transfer market remains open, the Sporting CP coach was also asked about possible arrivals and departures, but stressed: “There are rumours about Jovane, Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Pote... We are not certain about anything. It's not worth suffering prematurely".