The coach reviews a 1-2 win away to Casa Pia AC

Sporting CP's second victory in Liga Portugal, 1-2 to Casa Pia AC, had coach Rúben Amorim happy with the result but also concerned at the condition of a fan who required medical attention during the first half.

"Everyone at Sporting CP wishes all the best to that fan and his family. We already know that he is in a stable condition and we hope to see him in Alvalade in a future game. We would be delighted to see him," he began by telling journalists at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior following the match.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, against a team that won well in their first match and that didn't have any pressure in this game. From the first minute, we showed that we have a lot of desire to win. We had several opportunities in the first half and many balls between the lines that we could have used to better effect. I think it was fair that we led at the break, and the second half was different from the game against FC Vizela. We conceded a goal, but we had the match under control and as soon as the ball went to the midfield, we accelerated a little more and scored the goal. Then it was about holding onto the result. We had some transitions and we ended up controlling things -a little deeper, but we controlled the game well until the end," he summarised.

When confronted with the statement from the League's Arbitration Council, which stated that due to a VAR error the opening goal "should not have been validated," Amorim considered that this "will always affect our team, without it being our fault, and brings problems for the whole league."

“These things cannot happen, but I liked the speed of the announcement. It should happen more often so that we understand what is happening. As Sporting CP coach, I don't like these situations. It is regrettable and has a great importance in the game."

"It was a very serious case, they have to put the lines on the VAR and we will wait as long as it takes. Someone made a mistake."

Questioned afterwards about the fact that the team were unable to hold onto their advantage without conceding an equaliser in the first two games, the coach stressed that "we must also give credit to the opposition. We have to develop our game, but above all we are managing to win and we are having more opportunities and more moves into the opposition area."

As for Paulinho, who was decisive again and has scored three goals at the start of the season, Amorim considered that the striker “perhaps is more comfortable, not being the target man in the area."

"He's doing well. Sometimes both he and Viktor Gyökeres will play, other times just the one of them. Paulinho worked hard, as always, and he scored two goals, which gives more effect to his game and means people are looking at him in a different way," he said, before explaining the substitutions to bring on Mateus Fernandes and new signing Morten Hjulmand.

"'Gonçalves was tired and our team still have a lot to improve -technically and physically. Mateus is a player similar to 'Pote' and in the future we may have a player with those characteristics there: He is a midfielder who can move the ball around, and that's what we tried to bring to the game, using a midfielder/forward to help with the pressure and to be strong in the transition."

“Morten brought a lot of quality to the game, in the sense of his positional play. He didn't make big moves, but he had the ball many times and is very strong in the tackle. His positioning is completely different at Sporting CP from what he did in Italy, playing further back."

Finally, the coach praised the strong Sportinguista presence in Rio Maior.

“They filled the stadium, they are following the team and we really need them in Alvalade. As it turned out, the team are not yet mature enough to dominate every moment in a home game. We need them to win the game against FC Famalicão, who are a team with a lot of talent and without any pressure on them."