“Looking at the players they have available, it is not easy at all. They have a small squad, but one with great quality, with a lot of skill and that have had a lot of time to workshop”, he told reporters in the press room at the Etihad Stadium.

Amorim will be without the suspended Matheus Nunes and the injured Daniel Bragança, João Palhinha and Pedro Gonçalves, and said that “We're going to face great opponents who, even with players out, have a good team. We're going to do the same, fielding our best team. The only way in which we've kept things in reserve is with the workload that we've given our players, to protect them for all competitions. Those available who give us more of a chance to obtain a good result will play”, he underlined, before talking about the youngsters called up -including Renato Veiga, Rodrigo Ribeiro and 16-year-old Dário Essugo.

“They will have as much time as the game dictates. We will field our best team and our project involves training, but we have to understand the moments in which we should bring these players in. It doesn't matter if the tie is over: It's a game and we're going to fight for the win”.

“Feeling the demands of playing with the main team in the biggest club competition is an experience that will help the team grow. We have few midfielders, and that's why Veiga has been called up. Rodrigo is a very talented kid, we believe in him a lot and he has some characteristics that his coach likes”, added Amorim.

“Young players are the future and the demand is always greater. We believe a lot in those who are coming through; there has been investment in the Academia and that takes time. They are the basis of our project. We have quality and we trust in it, but we'll not be able to do it every year . We have time and a clear direction for what we want to do, and young players are part of it”.

The coach was asked about his own future at the club, and he reaffirmed that “I have a contract with Sporting CP, I am very happy here and we are already planning for next season. The will of all parties are for us to continue. There is a lot to do at the club and this tie demonstrates as much”.

Shifting the focus back to the match against Manchester City, Amorim listed some of the aspects he wants to see improved for the game.

“We started the last match well and we managed to have the ball, despite the goal that we conceded. It would be beneficial for us to be able to press better -which is very difficult against Manchester City- and to have more of the ball. At Alvalade it was atypical, because when you are at a disadvantage it is very difficult to chase the ball”, he recalled, adding: “There are many challenges. We have to improve with and without the ball and manage the result better, which stimulates the players more during the game itself”.

After the end of the press conference, the squad carried out an adaptation training session at the Etihad, with the first 15 minutes open to the media.