The team host Moreirense FC this Friday at Estádio José Alvalade

Sporting Coach Rui Borges previewed his side's Friday night fixture against Moreirense FC in a pre-match press conference, and called upon the fans to continue their support in the final stretch of the season.

The impact of the supporters
"It's very important and I made a point of emphasising this at the end of the game against CD Santa Clara. The massive support from the fans has been the same since we arrived. They make us believe and we want them to believe as much as we do. We really believe in ourselves and the players convey this on the pitch, regardless of the difficulty of each game. We have immense belief, a huge ambition to be champions, and I ask the fans to come out and create a fantastic 'wave of green' in these five remaining games."

The return of Hidemasa Morita
"Morita is out of the game against Moreirense FC, but he will still be important in the final stretch. He is important on the pitch and is making his contribution, despite all the problems he has had. We need him and he will be back very soon. He wants to recover as quickly as possible and is very motivated to be able to help in the upcoming games. He is very important for the team and a player I admire a lot."

A possible starting role for Pedro Gonçalves
"I wish I could have Pedro Gonçalves 100% fit, but he was out for five months. Everything is sore for him except the pain from the injury, because he is in 'preseason,' let's say. We have to be careful and his return requires individual fitness work on his part. He is still far away from being a starter, but I believe we will be racing against time and that he will still be very important in this final stretch of the season. He's tired but he's given his all, he's focused and wants to help, he believes that the team will be happy in the end and he wants to contribute to that. He is available to help at any time. That makes me happy."

Controversy regarding refereeing and the game against Moreirense FC
"The Sporting CP coach is focused on what he controls, which is the game. Moreirense FC beat Sporting CP and FC Porto at home, drew with SL Benfica, and had a great game at Estádio da Luz as well. They are a very competitive, well-organised team, who have had their own routines for some years now. They are very calm in defence and competent in attack, and their coach works very well on set pieces. We have to be prepared. I owe a lot to the club I'm going to face, because they opened the doors for me in the Primeira Liga. I know most of the players and we will be focused on transitions and set pieces, if they exist for the opponents. In attack, we have to understand what we can explore within our individual and collective quality."

The ban for Conrad Harder
"The player celebrated a victory with our fans, without provoking anyone. The referee made the decision he did and I believe it will be reversed, because the footage is clear. If we don't celebrate, football becomes apathetic, but we are prepared to go into the game with or without Conrad."

Criticism of the performance of the title contenders
"When things don't go as we want, we put others down. We really want to be champions, and so do the fans, and we will celebrate with all due merit if that happens. It will be more than deserved for everything the group has overcome and will continue to overcome until the end of the season. They really deserve to be happy."

Five important games
"We'll take it one game at a time; there is no futurology and no easy games. We will focus on what we control and go into each game with the desire, ambition and will that we have shown. There are competitive teams that want to steal points from the big teams."

The motto for the final stretch of the season
"Luck is about hard work and that's why I say: "Whoever is most competent until the end will be champions." We know all the difficulties that lie ahead, but the ambition and belief that the team have demonstrated, despite sometimes less successful performances... the players are incredible and really deserve to be happy. The fans have spoken for us: "We don't need slogans for the final stretch, we need you to believe as much as we do and to be connected with us."

Alisson Santos' integration
"He has been training a lot with the first team, and he is growing and adapting to the demands of Sporting CP. He is a kid we believe in a lot, he has a lot of potential and characteristics that we like. He is going through a period of adaptation, understanding the size of the club and getting to know his teammates. He has provided a very good response. He wins duels, is powerful and will have his growth. I have no doubt he will be a player you hear a lot about."

The Sporting CP coach felt his side deserved more against Moreirense FC

Following Monday's Liga NOS match against Moreirense FC, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim told the media that he believed the 1-1 draw was less than his side deserved.

"We could - and should - have scored a second goal. We even had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed by a question of centimetres. Then at the end, off a cross, the ball was left loose for a Moreirense FC player, who scored a great goal", he explained.

"I think we had a good game. We improved in certain aspects and we dominated possession. Moreirense FC had practically only one chance, when Rafael Martins was left on his own after a deflection off Feddal, but from there we were always in control of the game. We deserved a different result", he added, refuting that Sporting CP took too many risks.

"It's our way of playing. We tried to open the opposition up and create more space. We got that space and enjoyed several opportunities, but we were unable to score. The game lasts until the final whistle, and from one opportunity Moreirense FC got their goal. We even created more chances than in other games, but what happened tonight is what sometimes happens in football: A team get one chance and score."

Amorim also praised Paulinho, who scored his first goal for Sporting CP. "The performance he had today, even before the goal, proves that he is a mature player and that he is prepared for pressure. He knew the weight that being a Sporting CP player carries, and he is a player that we really wanted and that the team needed. A striker lives on goals, but he has the ability to do many other things, such as linking up the attack, defending and helping with set pieces. He will grow with the team and the team will grow with him."

Finally, the coach played down any possible negative effects of the draw and looked confidently to the future. "It is always better to win, but there are nine games to go and that’s our thinking; the players don’t have to worry about anything else. We had a good performance and we deserved to win, but this happens. Many points will be dropped before the end of the season. This game is in the past and now we take on FC Famalicão, who have not been losing lately and are very difficult opponents. There is nothing better than playing opposition like that to provide a response", he concluded.

On course for victory, the team concede late in Moreira de Cónegos

A late equaliser by Moreirense FC denied Sporting Clube de Portugal the three points on Liga NOS Matchday 25, as they drew 1-1 on the road. Paulinho's maiden goal for the club appeared to be enough to earn Os Leões the victory, but Walterson's finish in the 90th minute meant that the spoils were shared.

With his entire squad available for selection on the first game back after the international break, Rúben Amorim brought Sebástian Coates and Paulinho back into the starting XI and kept Daniel Bragança in the team.

Although Moreirense FC had the first chance of the game, Sporting CP's control of possession became increasingly effective. It was rewarded by a goal on 21 minutes, as Bragança sent in a cross and Paulinho met it with his head; whilst that attempt was kept out by Pasinato, the striker himself followed up for his first official goal for the club.

At a disadvantage, Moreirense FC began to play in a more daring fashion, pressing higher up the pitch. That left them vulnerable to counterattacks, however, and Paulinho had the ball in the net again in the 45th minute -only to see it disallowed for offside.

Matheus Reis had come on in place of the injured Nuno Mendes just before the goal was ruled out, playing the final minutes of a first half that ended 0-1.

The second half started energetically, with plenty of battles for the ball. Sporting CP created danger with a João Palhinha shot from distance, and then Pedro Gonçalves became the second player to have a goal disallowed for offside.

Tiago Tomás was eventually introduced in exchange for Daniel Bragança, adding to the attack, and the visitors were always closer to scoring than conceding. In fact, inside the final ten minutes Zouhair Feddal was centimetres away from doubling the lead.

Seemingly on course for victory, Sporting CP were surprised by an attack scrambled in by Walterson, and there was no time for a response. The game ended 1-1 in Moreira de Cónegos.

Sporting CP remain unbeaten in Liga NOS and top the table with 65 points, 8 ahead of nearest rivals FC Porto. Their next game takes place on Sunday, April 11th, against FC Famalicão.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, João Mário, João Palhinha, Daniel Bragança (Tiago Tomás, 60'), Nuno Mendes (Matheus Reis, 39'), Pedro Gonçalves (Matheus Nunes, 86') and Paulinho.

Rúben Amorim speaks before the game against Moreirense FC

After the two-week international break, Sporting Clube de Portugal returns to Liga NOS action this Monday. They face Moreirense FC in Moreira de Cónegos, and Rúben Amorim is not predicting an easy game - as he explained in his pre-match press conference.

"They will be a bold side. Their coach [Vasco Seabra] likes to play good football; he has players who have been at big clubs in his squad and that helps when facing these games. The game against them at the Estádio José Alvalade saw them create some problems for us, but we were clearly the better side. Moreirense FC are doing very well, but we are also in good form", he told journalists.

Amorim stated that the aim for matchday 25 is "to continue to improve and win the game". "I hope it will be a great game, but even if it isn't, I hope that Sporting CP win", he added.

Os Leões were held to a draw the last time they visited Moreira de Cónegos in Liga NOS, last season, and it began a dip in results. However, their coach played down any effect this might have on his team.

"They are different seasons. Last season, Sporting CP failed to get points against the big sides, whilst this year it's the other way around: we haven't lost yet. We have to look at things both ways. We are more prepared and have a more balanced squad; there is no comparison whatsoever and there is no fear at all."

Sporting CP's position at the top of the Liga NOS table has inevitably attracted interest in their players from other European clubs, but Amorim doesn't fear heads being turned.

"This interest is to the players' credit. I am happy for them, but Sporting CP players are already playing for a big club. There are still many games to be played, and everything can change from one moment to the next. Sporting CP players are aware that what happens today could be different tomorrow. The success of the group makes these players grow, and when a team are doing well all the players must be valued."

Asked about Nuno Mendes in particular, he commented: "Nuno Mendes is not prepared to leave either this year, nor the next, nor the year after that. Maybe five years from now he will be ready to leave Sporting CP (laughing)."

"We want to keep the best players, but the market is a law unto itself. We know that we have to sell, but we are only thinking about getting the win against Moreirense FC. Nuno has a buyout clause and is happy here, so there is no concern. We are calm about that."

The Sporting CP coach hailed the attitude of his team

At the conclusion of Sporting CP's 2-1 win over Moreirense FC in Liga NOS, coach Rúben Amorim gave a post-match press conference to analyse the fixture.

"Sporting CP's attitude is always the same. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but we always try to find solutions to score goals. Teams also close up at the back. In the first half we had several opportunities in front of goal that we didn't take, be it missing the last pass or the final touch. The game got a bit difficult because of that. We conceded a goal against the run of play, but we reacted well and were convinced that we were going to score right away. The game was a little tough, but it ended up being a very fair result," he told the media.

"We are at the very beginning of the season and there is a long way ahead of us. We will play at a very difficult ground next week, and then we have the Taça de Portugal and the Taça da Liga. Those are three games that could completely change the season and the vision that people have of this team. We have a lot to improve, as we saw today, but we have already done something well. The fans can never complain about the attitude the team show, because it is the way we are."

Asked whether the absence of Europa League Group Stage is a benefit, Amorim explained that there are both positives and negatives.

"The important thing is to win our games. It is always so difficult and we want to win so much that we have to take advantage of every minute. We took the disappointment and all the criticism when we were eliminated from the Europa League. There is a good and a bad side. We make the most of every minute, because we know it's very important and our games are always very difficult."

As for in-form Pedro Gonçalves, scorer of the brace that decided the match and top marksman in Liga NOS with nine goals, Amorim asked the player to keep up his run next time out in Famalicão.

"Pedro Gonçalves is doing well and is reaping the rewards of the work from his teammates, who understand his movements well. He is in excellent form. He does not seem anxious when shooting and it seems that things are happening naturally. I hope that next week, against a club that he knows well, he can repeat that."