The Sporting CP coach speaks before the midweek game against Gil Vicente FC

Rúben Amorim previewed Wednesday night's Liga Portugal game against Gil Vicente FC in a pre-match press conference, in which he addressed the team's current form and rumours about his own future.

“We are in good form and, obviously, the results help. We are playing better and we are more consistent. Now we are up against Gil Vicente FC, who are a very well prepared team, with a very good dynamic, and I think it will be an excellent game for testing our consistency, but I would say that the main objective is to win again and maintain our way of playing, with our offensive quality and, mainly, a lot of defensive consistency," he said on Tuesday.

"We are aware that in the past we have also come off a good series of results and suddenly had one problem or another in a game that cost us in the table. We have to be aware of all this and go into the game confident. We are prepared."

Amorim noted that coach Gonçalo Inácio is fit for the match, although Paulinho has a problem with the sole of his foot and will miss out.

With Benfica and FC Porto meeting on Friday, a win on the road could bring Sporting CP closer to the top of the table, but Amorim said that nobody is doing the maths just yet.

“My players don't look at it much. They are very focused on getting into the starting lineup and playing. That's their main objective and I can feel this in training. As there are rotations and we have more and more options, their main concern at the moment is to earn their place and win the game. They know that wins take us closer to the Champions League places and, as they got to experience the Champions League this year, they really want to play in it again. They know how important this factor is for us."

This April Sporting CP will play eight games, two of them in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Their coach explained that he has no doubt that "it is an important moment in which a lot of things will be decided."

“This week we have three league games and then the Europa League, but nobody is thinking about the Europa League right now. We just think a little further ahead to manage the situation and help ourselves. Our priority is the league and it always has been. We really want to win in the Europa League, and we've already proved that we can beat any team, but we know the difference in that competition."

Amorim also commented on the interview given by Frederico Varandas on Monday night, saying that he considers that everybody should want justice to be done in cases involving Portuguese football.

“The president spoke and I would say that it's not just the president who thinks that way, but all the fans, be it supporters of SL Benfica, FC Porto or Sporting CP: All the fans want justice and fair play. I don't draw any conclusions about what is happening, but if I was at a club that has a problem in the courts, I would want justice to be done, regardless of whether I was harmed or not. That's why I say that it's not just the president who wants it: I say that everyone wants fair play. That is the main objective for all of us."

In recent days there has been talk of yet another club interested in the Sporting CP coach taking charge, but he batted away any suggestion of his departure.

“The main reason why I want to stay is because I really like being here. I've seen many coaches move to other leagues and not be happier. It sounds like a bit of a cliché, but it's an important factor in the decision we have to make and I'm not looking for anything. I already had contact with other clubs, Sporting CP even know this, but I always wanted to stay because I like being at Sporting CP. If I ever have to leave, either because I've been pushed out with white handkerchiefs or because I've gone to another club, then what happens, happens. But I won't be leaving the door ajar because I think Sporting CP deserve another level of respect. If I ever want to go, I'll tell the president and Hugo Viana and I'll go. At this time, I want to stay here and I want to fulfill my contract. I have very clear objectives for what I want to do. In addition, any club that wants me -just like Sporting CP wanted me- will have to pay the buyout clause, because my way of doing things requires that. I am very happy where I am and I want to continue here,” he concluded.