The coach previews the crunch clash with SC Braga on Wednesday night

This Wednesday, Sporting Clube de Portugal host SC Braga on Matchday 18 of the Liga Portugal season. Ahead of the game, Rúben Amorim gave a pre-match press conference at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We are expecting a very difficult game, and a different game to the one in the Taça da Liga, which had an abnormal result bearing in mind the difference between the teams," he told journalists.

"SC Braga are doing better than us in the league and they have more points. We are not satisfied with the results, but we are satisfied with the team's growth. I think we are playing better and better and the expectation is always to be the best. We are at home and we know that we will have the support of our fans. We have to impose our game and continue to play well, because things will change. It will be a tough game, but I hope that Sporting CP win."

Asked about Pedro Porro, whose transfer to Tottenham Hotspur was being negotiated on Tuesday, Amorim stated that "more than the professional relationship between us, there is a personal relationship. Our relationship is very close and he will be missed, but we are used to change in football -it's part of our lives. We will remain friends and I wish Porro the best of luck."

Asked if this is going to be an "all or nothing" match, the coach said that "every game has been, almost since the beginning of the season."

"At the end of the season is when we'll do the maths. The important thing is to keep playing well and keep a clean sheet again. If that happens, things will change. I'm excited about the team's growth, despite the fact that we know that the results determine the success of teams," he added.

"SC Braga have the great advantage of not having even half the pressure that the big clubs in Portugal have," he commented, before mentioning the transfer market situation for Sporting CP.

"The transfer figure for our most expensive player ever is that of a normal day at other clubs. When we are asked to fight for the same goals we have the same responsibility, but when we spend a little more money, people say that we are big spenders. It's difficult to understand, sometimes, the financial state of the clubs depending on how they want to portray the situation," he stressed.

With the absence of Paulinho, the coach said that "Youssef [Chermiti] could play, or a player with different characteristics."

As for the current situation for the club, Amorim explained that "It's a matter of pride. It is hard for everyone. It is hard for me to see my team in fourth place and failing to reach our goals. My motivation is much greater than at the beginning of the season. We have to improve every day and have a better second half of the season. You never know what can happen in the UEFA Europa League. We are Sporting Clube de Portugal, and there is no greater motivation than that," he concluded.

Sporting CP vs. SC Braga is scheduled for 9:15pm this Wednesday, February 1st, at the Estádio José Alvalade.