The coach gives his thoughts on the upcoming Taça a Liga game

Rúben Amorim is not expecting an easy game in Vila do Conde, where Sporting Clube de Portugal play this Wednesday, against Rio Ave FC in the Taça da Liga.

“It will be a decisive game, even if nothing is decided yet, but what we want is to win, continue to play well and not concede goals against a team that like to play with the ball, that have a very good dynamic and good finishing. They are always dangerous when they can impose their ideas, and they have a coach that I like a lot, in Luís Freire," said the Sporting CP coach.

"We have to pay attention to the individual characteristics of a team that are growing, who are playing at home and that in the cup competitions have an even greater ambition. We have to win and extend a run of consecutive victories to four -which for this group is nothing special because we had a long winning streak last year and we have to get back to normal."

Amorim added that “It's going to be a difficult game, but I'm very excited to see the team, their evolution and what we've practiced. I expect a good game that, as always, we have to win."

Manuel Ugarte, returning from the World Cup, will be among the options available to Amorim.

“He came back earlier than the others, he needs to have a few minutes and he will be called up for the squad. As the game unfolds, we soon see what is best to do, because the important thing is to win”.

One player who won't feature is Jeremiah St. Juste.

"It's a difficult time for him and I know what he's going through, because I've also been through it in my career, but he's very positive about things. He has suffered a lot with this last injury, he's recovering, but we don't know when he'll be back. We will look to find the balance so that he gets to play many games. The important thing is that his quality is there and that he also has a lot of human qualities."

Of his renewal with Sporting CP, signed last week, Amorim stated that “I feel prepared for everything. What I want is for Sporting CP to reach a point in which we can keep our players. I want to be an important part of this project and I really enjoy being at Sporting CP, as well as working with people like Hugo Viana. That, perhaps, has more value than some other things."