The coach previews the Matchday 4 contest

Sporting Clube de Portugal play this Sunday in their fourth game in Liga Portugal, travelling to SC Braga. Coach Rúben Amorim does not expect an easy contest, but believes his team can continue with their perfect record so far.

“First of all, I want to congratulate SC Braga for entering the Champions League. It's always good to see other teams participating and that's good for the country as a whole. We also really wanted to be there, and there is no way to hide that, but there is nothing better than this game to continue our path towards reaching the Champions League next year,” he began by saying in his pre-match press conference.

“We want to have control of the game, knowing that we will face a team with very experienced players, who are doing very well in the league, and who have only had one defeat in this start to the season."

“If it has to be a game with a lot of goals, let it be because Sporting CP score a lot, but we know from last year that it is important not to concede," he explained.
"We always score goals, so the approach will be the same: Have the ball, create chances and stop players like Horta, Bruma, Abel Ruiz, João Moutinho and Pizzi. SC Braga have a lot of talented players, but we are prepared. As a coach, I don't want a game with a lot of goals, I want a victory for Sporting CP, and if there are a lot of goals, they should only be for Sporting CP."

After revealing that new signing Iván Fresneda would be in the squad, Amorim talked about what he expects from the Europa League group that Sporting CP were drawn in on Friday.

“Our objective is always to go through. We have to focus a lot on the league, and then go game by game, understanding what these games need, what type of players they require. We know that we have to rotate if we are to win every game. It's always a dangerous group, with difficult teams, difficult away trips and different pitches, but we are prepared. As for me, as a coach, it's great to be in European competitions. I would like to be in the Champions League, but for us it is good because everyone will play, feel useful, and we want to be active on all fronts."

Talking about the transfer market, he analysed Sporting CP's summer business.

“Things happened earlier for us. We sold players -one in January and another in a deal that had been planned for some time- and that allowed us to find the players we wanted. We also had a different margin that let us look for players of a different value. There was a guarantee that no one else would leave and that is what happened."

“We had Mateus Fernandes, who is a player we believed in a lot and who could have been with us, but, due to the number of midfielders we have and how he is at a point in his career where he must play, he was transferred. And Tanlongo also left to get more minutes. There were several young players who we believe went to clubs where they are going to play. We did everything very calmly, which helped all parties: The players who needed to play more and the players we wanted to sign. Therefore, it ended up being a calm transfer market."

"We have everything it takes to win trophies. We have the potential for that. We have a different squad relative to our rivals, we have a lot of youth, but we also have some players with experience."

Rúben Amorim also spoke about those called up for the Portuguese national team, saying that in addition to Gonçalo Inácio, there are “players from Sporting CP who should have already been called up, but weren't."

“The Sporting CP players have to go because they deserve to go, and then they have to fit into the coach’s ideas and be in his plans ahead of other players. The national team should not be a prize, nor should it be used to help the players psychologically, because it is always a key moment in everyone's career and because everyone enjoys going away with their country. Sporting CP players should not have that as a prize, they should have that opportunity."

"I like what national team coach Roberto Martínez said about Paulinho. He looks at him as a finisher and a goalscorer. As for me, it's a good sign because Paulinho was always accused of being an excellent striker who worked outside the penalty area, and having our country's coach say that he is a finisher and a player who works in the box makes me very happy."