The coach looks at the Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven

Sporting Clube de Portugal visit PSV Eindhoven this Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League. Speaking in the Netherlands upon his team's arrival, coach Rúben Amorim began by commenting on the many compliments that Peter Bosz, the opposition boss, had for the team. He previously faced Bosz' Olympique Lyonnais side in the 2021 Cinco Violines game.

“We've all evolved in terms of our style of play, and I also remember that game well. What I take away from that game is that Peter [Bosz] always sends his side forward. I think it's a cultural thing here. His teams are always on the attack and that's what we can expect tomorrow: two attacking teams. We have different cultures, but similar results throughout the season," he noted.

“There is not that much difference between the two teams this season. There has been just one game in the Champions League: ours at home and PSV away, in Italy, against a club with a great history in European competitions. This one is going to be a good game, with goals."

“Just like when we play at Alvalade, we don't think that since we always win it will be easy, when we play away we always think about playing our game and we believe that we can win at any ground."

Amorim considers that the focus is on “improving on what was done against Lille OSC."

“To be able to play in a stadium like this, with intense pressure, against a Dutch team, we have to have a different capacity to build and have a different presence even to the what had in the first year, when we got past the group stage."

“We have proven that we are competitive, year after year. We have been consistent performers in Portugal and now people expect us to take the next step in Europe, but we also have to understand that there are teams like PSV, from a similar league to ours and used to these games, and others with different levels of investment."

Next, Amorim spoke about the current situation with Jeremiah St. Juste, who although is not fit for this game.

“We will have a training session here on Wednesday morning, and we want St. Juste with the team as much as possible. We didn’t want to leave him in Lisbon. We want him to feel this relationship with his teammates and everything is important in his recovery," he explained.

Daniel Bragança was also discussed at the press conference, with Amorim commenting on his midfield dilemma.

“It is difficult to choose one of the three midfielders, out of Hjulmand, Morita and Bragança, but Bragança has reached another dimension. He is a different player and he has the ability to play for the national team. For me, he is a starter, but sometimes I have to rotate the central midfielders, because everyone can play and it is a position that does not worry me at all."

When asked about the replacement in consideration for the injured Pedro Gonçalves, he played his cards close to his chest.

“We will play according to what we want from the game, in order to create more problems. There will be a player there ready for the challenge,” he assured.