The coach believes a win against GD Estoril Praia can spark a turnaround

Sporting Clube de Portugal play a Friday fixture away to GD Estoril Praia on Liga Portugal Matchday 4, and whilst coach Rúben Amorim had praise for the opposition, he stated in his pre-match press conference that the only intention is to win.

“This past week wasn't the happiest we've had, but we kept doing the same things. We looked at the game with GD Chaves and saw what we did well and what we need to improve on. We worked on things from there. When the week is focused on specific tasks, it goes by faster. This week's game has been moved to a day earlier and, for me, it's very good because I think there's a lot that is being done well. There are other aspects where we have to improve and, of course, we want to win games. I hope that Sporting CP win. We have to remember that GD Estoril Praia have an excellent team, with very talented young players, and that they have nothing to lose,” he said.

Jovane Cabral, Paulinho and Daniel Bragança will be unavailable, but Amorim welcomes back Pedro Porro and will have summer signing Sotiris at his disposal.

"He will be called up because we have a small number of players and because I want Matheus Fernandes to play, because he has not played for a long time and we have to think about tomorrow - for now he will play for the B team," revealed the coach, explaining the signing of the Greek international.

"He's a player with potential, but we didn't think he'd arrive here and take on an important role immediately. We believe a lot in him, and we don't know what might happen with Manuel Ugarte. I'm not only concerned about the present, I'm also concerned about the future and our project. Sotiris is a player for the present, but essentially for the future."

Asked about the aims for the team, Amorim stated that he wants “To win all the games. We will do the maths at the end of the season. Most competitions haven't started yet and therefore we have a lot to win, albeit we are aware of the points difference in the league. The only way to get around this is to win games. There is no other way. What we clearly have to do is improve in some aspects. I try to come up with solutions and that's what we did this week. By winning the games, we get around the 'crisis.' It's normal, as we are at a very big and very demanding club that has already been through these moments. We've won trophies, we've sold players and now we're going to try to turn around a bad moment. The way to turn it around is to win games and beat GD Estoril Praia."

"We're not going to take steps back. We will play the same way as we have been playing because we are a big club. In our first season I said that we had to play better, that we defended well, but that we had to play better and, therefore, we are not going to take steps backwards. We want to play, be dominant and win. We have to score goals and when that's the case, the games are better controlled. We have to score goals to gain even more confidence."

“My players are always the best in the world," he continued. "We have a team good enough to have beaten GD Chaves, we could have played better at the Estádio do Dragão and we could clearly have won against SC Braga. We have solutions, I'm satisfied with my players and in terms of dynamics we change them a lot. We will do the same as always and we will field the XI that I think is strongest."

Commenting on the compliments that club president Frederico Varandas gave him on Wednesday, at the 18th anniversary celebration of the Sporting CP Museum, Amorim expressed that “I have to prove it every day. Right now , I think I'm the 13th best coach in the league. These words are from a president who believes in the coach. Our relationship is normal, and the same as we have always had. We argue because we have to. I have to do my part and the president has to guide all the departments and guide an organisation that is much bigger than football. Everything is fine between us."

“As for the fans, they've always been good to me. Right now, the Sportinguistas look at the team and realise that they give their all on the pitch, that they make some mistakes and that they need support. The board don't need to support me. I feel quite comfortable here. As I said, the only way to get through this is to win games, and I believe I can win every game because I'm backed by my players. I always feel very well supported at Sporting CP," he underlined.