The Sporting CP coach is wary of the Matchday 23 opponents

On the eve of Saturday's Liga NOS match against CD Tondela, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim underlined the home performances of the opposition, describing them as "a different side when they play at home."

“They have five victories in a row and feel very comfortable at their home ground. They are the sixth best team in the league in this respect. They have different performance -not in the way they play, but in intensity- and even the quality of their play is different," warned Amorim.

"We have to focus on what we have been doing, because we have a lot to improve. CD Tondela could use the same formation as us, and their coach has already said that he could employ a lower block.”

The Sporting CP coach added that “knowing that we have had some difficulties in the final third, that is exactly what we have worked on during the week. We are prepared, we know the quality of the three up top for CD Tondela -even after João Pedro's arrival- and we have to be very careful with their transitions. Nevertheless, the focus is on maintaining defensive quality and improving in attack. I think we are going to have a better game in that aspect."

He revealed that Paulinho "will be back soon, but for this game he is not yet fit," and reacted to the news of a possible return of fans to stadiums in the second half of April or first week of May.

“This team have showed a way of playing with which the fans identify. I would like to have the fans back with us already. We will still need them a lot, because there is still a long way to go this season, many points will still be lost and they will be a decisive factor. Contrary to what people think, Sporting CP fans will still help this team a lot,” he concluded.

"It makes me very proud to be connected to a club like Sporting CP"

Sporting Clube de Portugal have reached an agreement with Rúben Amorim for the extension of the first team coach's contract through to 2024. The announcement was made on Thursday, almost a year after he joined the club, and Amorim and president Frederico Varandas were present at the Estádio José Alvalade to talk about the new deal.

"As president of Sporting CP, I am very happy. I think it is a very happy day for Sporting CP. The things that led us to gather here a year ago to sign Rúben Amorim and his staff to his initial contract are exactly the same reasons for which we double down on our confidence in them," said Varandas.

"Rúben Amorim is a brilliant, loyal coach, and a man of principles. It is extremely important to have a coach who can set an example like he does. I am convinced that he is the right man to make this club grow and be increasingly competitive. From the beginning there has been perfect harmony between the president, sporting director Hugo Viana and Rúben Amorim."

"I can only be extremely proud of my coach, my coaching staff and my players for the work done so far, but it still doesn't change anything," continued the president.

"I tried to be as clear as possible a few weeks ago, after the extremely difficult victory in Barcelos. We will certainly have more victories like that one, and we will have games in which we will not be able to win. We are 13 games from the end of the season and ten points from a place that guarantees us direct access to the UEFA Champions League -and that is extremely positive," he said, calming any premature proclamations of the title being a foregone conclusion.

"Whoever is talking about celebrations, ceremonies and titles already having been won, genuinely doesn’t want Sporting CP to win. We know what is needed, we know the difficulty of the league and the value and strength of our rivals, and we know the path we have to follow."

Rúben Amorim himself then spoke, starting by commenting on what has changed since his initial presentation in March of 2020.

"These are obviously different times. The moment the club are in has changed. But the ambition is the same. We have the same desire to win and the same challenges. Now, we are more certain of ourselves and we know the way we have to go," he stated.

"We have a lot to do, and that is why I have signed on for more years here. I feel at home here, and I have always said that. When we failed in our objective for last season, I said at the end of the game that I had made the right choice. I said the same thing when we won our first trophy together, and it's the truth. A lot has changed, but there is still everything to do. I have the same ambition."

"I would like to say a few words about the coaching staff and thank them for all their work, as well as the players, who have provided this opportunity for us to remain connected to a club like Sporting CP. We have a lot to win and a lot to do. Our path involves trophies, but also something much bigger. I am very happy, I feel at home and it makes me very proud to be connected to a club like Sporting CP."

For the coach, there have been changes along with the demanding nature of his role.

"Now I am more relaxed, but I feel more under pressure now. I'm also more confident and experienced. The first year has been a year of hard work and sacrifice for everyone, and a strange year for all of Portuguese society. The goal is to improve. We have to improve our way of playing, our Academy and all areas of Sporting CP.  I hope to help make this club even greater."

Finally, Amorim talked about the project, refusing to take full credit for the work done at the club.

"This started long before the coach arrived. I knew the idea of Sporting CP and the challenge was very attractive and difficult. It is a challenge that is just right for me: A commitment to youth, a difficult challenge and a very large club."

The reaction from the Sporting CP coach to the 0-0 draw with FC Porto was a positive one

After the 0-0 draw away to FC Porto, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim reacted to the result in his post-match press conference.

"All games are a test, and defensively we performed well. We get a lower mark for our ability to get into the last third. We have to take the ball there. Tiago Tomás played much better, but he's a young player and still has to grow. We came forward well a few times, but we have to improve our ability to have the ball in the final third," he said.

"We were facing a great team: Juventus conceded two goals here. We kept another clean sheet."

Amorim also commented on his decision to bring on Matheus Nunes in the second half.

"We knew Matheus' ability to carry the ball upfield, and how many metres he covers. We only lacked the finish from him. He was another player to bring the ball between the lines and get into space when he has to. Whenever Sporting CP players come on, they do well."

Amorim expressed his belief that games like 'O Clássico' are "very important for the growth of our players, like [Gonçalo] Inácio and Nuno Mendes. They are very young and these games have great intensity. Nuno Mendes was playing against kids, and now he's playing against Corona, Marega, Manafá... We had a very mature and consistent game. We go home without having conceded any goals, and we could have scored on the opportunity for Matheus [Nunes]. We have a lot to improve and I'm very proud."

The Sporting CP coach also refused to comment on the performance of referee João Pinheiro, preferring to highlight the good work done by his squad.

"I was very focused on the game. It was a very difficult game and this is not the result of the referee. I am not going to give my opinion of the referees. It was a combative and difficult game. It wasn't very spectacular, but it was more of a competent game from a young Sporting CP team who are on the right track."

"In Barcelos against Gil Vicente we wanted to win the game and we almost only held back. Obviously we wanted to win the game tonight. If we didn't do it, it was because we couldn't and because we have to grow. Holding out for the result is not our way. Our idea is always the same: we want to win. This time we didn't succeed," said the Sporting CP coach, who added that "I'm not going to be a hypocrite: This draw keeps the difference over the reigning national champions, and it was a different game from the one against Rio Ave FC. We wanted to win."

After a 2-0 win over Portimonense SC, the coach praises the handling of the game

After a Liga NOS Matchday 20 win against Portimonense SC, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim praised his team for their showing and admitted the importance of two goals scored in quick succession.

“It is always important. Those were decisive goals. For the second, we took advantage of a dead ball, pressed, won possession and finished. We can never expect the goal to happen sooner or later -that doesn't exist. We have to go looking for it and work hard, which is what we did, even though we had some chances in which we could have finished much better”, he said in his post-match press conference.

“In the first half we played well and always found a man free. When it was 2-0 we did much better than in other games in managing the game. In the second part the surface made things difficult, because we wanted to build from the back and many times we had to play through. I think this was an entirely fair result. Portimonense SC grew in the second half, but we managed the game well”, Amorim stated.

After explaining that Paulinho had dropped out of the squad due to discomfort felt in the final training session, and that it will be 'difficult' for him to feature against FC Porto next weekend, the coach singled out Zouhair Feddal for praise.

“He has adapted well. We knew him from his time at Real Betis and saw many games of his. The big surprise was his fitness, not his quality. He brings us a lot of commitment and quality, and he is very good on the ball. He marked many quality forwards in the Spanish league, and that makes players grow. He is a very important player for us”.

Finally, Amorim admitted that it is normal for Sporting CP fans to be confident, but stressed that the team's focus is always on the next game.

“Football is all about the moment, and I realise that some fans will never forgive us if we lose this advantage, but that is more a matter for the coach. The players are visibly growing, the squad is becoming more valuable and Sporting CP are now more of a club in all areas. Sporting CP always go out there to win. The only person who can deal with this problem is the coach and we are prepared for that. We are going game by game, without additional pressure. That's our idea”, he concluded.

Sporting CP's coach praises his team's late turnaround against Gil Vicente

At the end of the amazing 1-2 comeback victory against Gil Vicente FC in Liga NOS, Rúben Amorim reviewed the challenging contest in his post-match press conference.

"Once again, the game only ends when the referee blows his whistle. It was a very tough  game, as we knew it was going to be, against a team who had us well-studied", he told journalists.

"We started well and we could have scored right away. From then on, we were lax and slow and let the game pass us by. After halftime the team changed their mentality. We pressed more, we had more of the ball and we looked for space better. We had a lot of crosses, but just needed someone to put the ball into the net".

"We scored the equaliser, we believed until the end and we got the second. Gil Vicente FC did well in the first half, but stopped playing football in the second".

Amorim praised his goalscoring captain, Sebastian Coates: "He was very good at both defending and attacking. He set an example. Congratulations to him. He is our leader and captain and he deserves it".

"Today was not about luck -it was about belief. In some games we have had good fortune, but not this time. We tried hard until the end. The referee hadn't blown the final whistle and I felt we could score a goal. Scoring a goal enabled us to win the way that we did", he explained.

Regarding Paulinho, the coach admitted that "it was not the best game for our striker, but that's normal".

"He's coming into a new team. Against CS Marítimo he had more space, and this time the Gil Vicente FC's block was closer together. In the second half he had some crosses come to him. He didn't connect with the ball well, but that's part of a striker's life. He has to work hard. He is very happy and I am very happy with him. He has integrated well and that is the main thing", he said.

Asked about the changes he made at halftime, Amorim revealed that "attention was drawn to our lack of intensity, the problems and where the space was".

"There had to be a change in mentality. Gil Vicente FC closed up space in the middle. We needed a winger instead of a full-back and Nuno Santos improved us by providing many crosses. Neto was doing fine in the game, but Inácio is very good at bringing the ball out. We wanted a variation".

"Our team are always more motivated when they dominate the game and concede no opportunities. That gives motivation to them. We will be more aware of what we have to do in the coming games", he concluded.

The coach gave the lowdown on the Tuesday game against Gil Vicente FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to the Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, home of Gil Vicente FC, this Tuesday, for Matchday 18 of the Liga NOS season.

Ahead of the contest, Rúben Amorim reminded journalists of the difficult game his side had in the first half of the season against this week's opponents.

“Our team are in good form, which comes from good results and performances. We have almost all of our squad available, with the exception of Nuno Mendes. We are prepared for a difficult game, as the last one against Gil Vicente FC at home was; we only scored our goals in the last ten minutes. The result of that game does not reflect what happened on the pitch," he warned.

"They are a very good team, who have been strengthened and can play with two different formations. This made our scouting difficult, even because we didn’t have much time to train for them."

“We also know their strength from dead balls, and we have tried to study everything in detail. The team are playing well and we will try to make it the type of game that favours us,  because we have an excellent team and excellent players," said the coach, who added that a win would not be decisive for the title chase.

"I am sure that it is not, because there is still a long way to go this season. There are many points up for grabs and we have a whole second half of the campaign to play. It has been shown that anyone can drop points anywhere, so what we have to do is win our next match -in order to be more comfortable when thinking about the next one. Our way of thinking will not change and the title race is always open, whatever happens in Barcelos,” he warned.

It was a further statement that both the squad and the fans have their feet firmly on the ground.

"There is a notion that you can lose everything in two or three games, as has happened in the past. This fear is good because it keeps us focused on the task at hand," he explained.

"We are not naive enough to think that everything is done and dusted. We have to give our all, and I think the Sportinguistas are proud of the team -but also very cautious. Everything can change from one moment to the next, but our attitude will not. The only obligation for the players is to give their all, run a lot and try to win, which is what they will continue to do," he concluded.

Rúben Amorim reacts after the victory in the derby

Rúben Amorim felt that his side were good for their derby win against SL Benfica in Liga NOS, in which they struck late in stoppage time to claim the three points.

“The game was evenly matched, but we were always the team that was closest to scoring and we were rewarded at the end - because we pushed until the end. We were the team that looked for the victory most, and we were worthy winners", he said in his post-match press conference.

He also spoke about the ambition of the Sporting CP players, saying that it is not necessary for them to believe they are title favourites.

“We cannot have any ambition beyond winning the next game. We aren't in the second half of the season yet, and we have a very young team, but if there is one thing these players have, it is ambition -and that can be seen on the pitch".

The coach then explained his decision to include Matheus Nunes -the eventual hero in the game- in his starting lineup. He had been true to his word from the previous day: even if João Palhinha was available, he would not bring him in because during the week he had worked with another player in mind.

“Because of his performances in training and games, Matheus deserved to play", stated Amorim.

"Obviously Palhinha would play if he were fit. That does not mean that Matheus would have stayed on the bench. I didn't say anything to Palhinha because he understood the situation. As he [Palhinha] is an important player, due to what he gives to the group spirit, the quality he has and how he organises the midfield, it was important for him to be in the game in some capacity, but it was not essential at the beginning, because we had prepared the game differently”.

“I believe that tactics and technique are important, but group spirit is very important too. The players are very attentive and there are details that they see. I would never say that I wouldn't change things and then change them: I would prefer to lose a game than to lose the trust of my players. I don't lie to my wife and I don't lie to my players. That's my rule. I believe that group spirit sometimes turns things around. I try to be straight with them".

The Sporting CP coach previews the derby against SL Benfica (Monday, 9:30pm local time)

Monday is derby day at the Estádio José Alvalade. In a press conference ahead of Sporting CP's match against SL Benfica, coach Rúben Amorim noted the special nature of the fixture, but also emphasised that it is just as important as every other game.

"It is important for the growth of the team, because winning always helps us. We have not played SL Benfica this season. It's a game with a different weight to it, however there are still just three points in play. The team have been responding well in these types of games, which is positive in terms of having a good season. We have our strategy for the game and the team will be prepared", guaranteed the coach in discussion with the media.

Sporting CP lead Liga NOS with 39 points, 4 more than FC Porto in second place. When asked to talk about the possibility of increasing the advantage over SL Benfica from 6 to 9 points, Amorim warned that "nothing will be decided tomorrow" in the title picture.

"There are many games, we are not yet in the second half of the season and a victory for us does not take SL Benfica out of the race - nor give the title to Sporting CP. What it can give us is more confidence. It's nothing more than that: Three points. With that being said, it is of course a special game."

Regarding the extra pressure that a derby brings, Amorim stressed that he expects Sporting CP players to feel the "responsibility of victory". "I hope that my players are under pressure. We want to win and we have to win. Obviously we are in a better spot in the table, but I hope that our players are under pressure -because we have the responsibility of taking victory. We want to keep going with this advantage", he stated.

João Palhinha is a confirmed absence for this Monday's derby and, although the coach admits he is a significant loss, he also said that there will be a solution within the squad.

"We are not concerned, but of course he is an important player. He has some very specific characteristics that we don't find in the squad, but we will go about things another way. Whoever plays in that position will have other characteristics, which will give the game another style, perhaps. It's a shame that João Palhinha is out, but we have players to face his absence."

Rúben Amorim also took the opportunity to analyse SL Benfica's tactical setup. "There are things that remain the same in Jorge Jesus' style of play, and we have scouts who have worked with him, as well as Sebastián Coates, with whom I shared ideas about various aspects of the game. However, the characteristics of the players is what changes completely how a team play. We are prepared for everything and now it will also depend on the inspiration of both our players and the opponents", concluded the Sporting CP coach.

Sporting CP coach previews Taça da Liga 'Clássico'

A 'Clássico' between Sporting CP and FC Porto takes place this Tuesday in the semifinals of the Taça da Liga, kicking off at 7:45pm local time at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria. Coach Rúben Amorim addressed the media before the Final Four of the competition got underway, stating that his team are ready for the challenge ahead.

"The last two games saw two results that we were not used to. The team are very committed and focused in training. I haven’t seen the same joy from them, which is a good sign, but the team continue to believe in the process and are confident. They are ready for the next game, which is important because it is the semi-final of the Taça da Liga," he told journalists at the Auditório Artur Agostinho.

"In terms of experience and maturity, at this moment in time we are clearly behind FC Porto, but youth can compensate in other aspects," he stated. "We have a confident team despite the last two results, and we are in first place in the league, so the players are ready for this game."

Asked about positive COVID-19 cases in the FC Porto team, Amorim insisted that the opposition will be as strong as ever.

"We had cases just last week. The clubs are prepared for this. FC Porto will always field a great team, with a lot of experience and international players. Only those who don’t know the coach, the players and the club would think that it will be easier because one player or the other isn't available", he said.

"They will be a great side. The players already know each other. Sérgio Oliveira has a lot of influence in the game, but reducing FC Porto to Sérgio Olvieira would be a mistake. I expect a strong and aggressive team, strong in space and between the lines, with Corona creating problems in that regard. Uribe will be pushing to get into the area and the wingers will be attacking. Pepe must have played more Champions League finals than Inácio has games as a starter in the Primeira Liga. We will have to suffer, play hard and try to win the game. It is very important to face a game with FC Porto with the maximum aggressiveness."

Amorim continued by saying that "We want to bring the Taça da Liga back to Alvalade. The group needs these games to understand that the DNA of Sporting CP is about winning trophies. I want to win a trophy as a coach of Sporting CP, as do the players."

Before the press conference, João Pedro Araújo, director of the Sporting CP medical department, explained to journalists that Andraž Šporar and Nuno Mendes’ positive Covid-19 tests had in fact been false positives.

"Both tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday, January 13th, through a PCR test. Sporting CP have always complied -and will always strictly comply- with the protocol plans, having implemented measures such as daily internal screening," he said.

"Two more PCR tests were performed in two other different laboratories: One on Friday 15th, and the other on Saturday 16th. Both results were negative, so it can be concluded that the results that preceded the match against Rio Ave FC were false positives."

"The Sporting CP medical department wish to make it very clear that we recognise the immense value of these tests in combating the pandemic. The probability that the test is positive and the person is not infected is less than 1%. It is quite rare."

"It is with regret that we registered this error because, as everyone knows, it was a mistake that meant the coaching staff missed two members of the squad for the match against Rio Ave FC. Finally, I thank the health authorities and the laboratories for their collaboration and quick response, and hope that the players will be available for tomorrow's game," stated the doctor.

The Sporting CP coach laments dropped points against Rio Ave FC

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim was naturally dissatisfied with the 1-1 draw between his side and Rio Ave FC in Liga NOS, believing that victory was close for the league leaders.

He said that a ten-minute spell in the second half was decisive to the result, acknowledging that "We were different from how we usually are -and how we should be- which is strict, with a lot of concentration. In those ten minutes we allowed them to score."

"It's part of being young and lacking experience from some players. It's part of their growth. After those ten minutes, we were back to the team we are -sometimes with bad decisions, but on top of our opposition.”

"We will grow from this," continued Amorim. “We know that the league season goes through better and worse phases. We talked this week about our elimination from the cup by CS Marítimo, but two days before that we had played a great game against CD Nacional. We owe ourselves two points from today. We know that this will happen sometimes, and I will be here to help them when it does."

"We have had these bad results, but Sporting CP are in first place in the table. We should have won the game and we didn't, but we have the right to have bad moments. We had ten minutes in which we weren't in the game, and we paid dearly for it," he said