The coach talks ahead of the derby against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel across Lisbon this Sunday to play SL Benfica in the first derby of the season. Os Leões top the table with a three point lead, but coach Rúben Amorim knows well that there are no favourites in this fixture.

“It's difficult to see any favourite in these types of games, and when it comes to pressure we know that, whatever happens, at the end of this match no one will have more points than us, whilst if SL Benfica lose then they could be six points behind. Still, I don't want my players to feel comfortable knowing that, no matter what happens, no one will overtake us. This is a unique opportunity to establish a six-point lead. Although it is not decisive, we cannot waste this opportunity either,” said the coach.

“We know we have to win this game, because it is important. It's not decisive, but it would be comfortable to get into the international break with a six-point lead and we don't want to lose first place. We know the team we are up against, the quality of the players we are going to face and, therefore, we are not at all deluded by their form. We are very well prepared and we really want to win this game."

As for his squad, he revealed that Geny Catamo is out, but that Hidemasa Morita is available again and Viktor Gyökeres -who missed the last European game due to suspension- returns to the group. This will therefore be the first derby for the Swedish striker, who has scored 11 goals in 13 games for the club.

“I don't expect close monitoring on just Gyökeres, I expect it for Pote, Marcus, Trincão and all these players we have because, if they have a lot of space, it's the same as if we give a lot of space to Di María, Rafa or António Silva. I expect a game with a lot of duels and perhaps a lot of tension at the beginning, but then I think it will become a beautiful game and, yes, it will be difficult for Gyökeres."

Amorim disclosed that he was not motivating the players in any special way for this game.

 “I usually use everything I can, but this time, as we had so little time to get ready, the focus was on not making them more nervous or more stressed. What I tried my best to do was make them comfortable and get them ready for the game. What matters, beyond words, is the six point lead. What matters is that we are celebrating in Marquês at the end of the season. Therefore, it is very important that we win this game. I feel like I don't need to be pushing them at the moment and, after such a bad season, we just have to make the most of every opportunity we have to achieve our objective -which is down to us."

If Sporting CP win, Amorim will reach his 100th victory in charge of the side, but the coach did not give much importance to the milestone.

“Will it be special because it can happen in the derby? For me, the most important thing is the six-point lead and I think this should be an obsession of ours every time we can take points from our opponents. We have to take advantage of this, and tomorrow we have another opportunity, which is what we will try to do."