The Sporting CP coach promises a revamped starting XI against Ajax

With a place in the Last 16 of the Champions League already secured, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim admitted in his pre-match press conference that he will use the game against AFC Ajax to field some less frequently used players.

“We are not going to change the way we play, but we are going to play with a few different players," he told the media.

"One of Gonçalo Esteves and Flávio Nazinho will start tomorrow, and João Virgínia will also be in there, because we have a decision to make at the end of the year and we have to watch him play right now,” said the coach.

“Our objective is much bigger than records and consecutive victories. We want to prepare our players for the Round of 16, bring everyone to the same level and give some young players the opportunity to start. We have a long-term project and we make use of every minute available. We know we have to honor the shirt that we wear, but there are certain moments that give us the opportunity to go further with the growth of everyone in our squad," he stressed.

“We are Sporting CP and the pressure on us is the same as always. The result in Alvalade affected us, but that also gave us strength,” he recalled.

“The only way for us to win the competitions we take part in is to prepare everyone and trust in everyone. I think we are going to have a great game tomorrow," he added.

"We have to win and should always be thinking about the future. Players who don't have that many minutes are hungry to play and deserve to play. Sometimes it's easy to say that the group is very united, but that's only because we believe in everyone a lot, and we're giving everyone the opportunity. When I say 'the opportunity,' I'm not taking responsibility away from them. Tomorrow the Sporting CP team will play to win."