The coach analyses 'o Clássico'

After Sporting CP's 2-0 victory over FC Porto, coach Rúben Amorim talked about the game and the result in his post-match press conference.

“It wasn't one of the best Clássicos. There were different strategies in play, but we controlled things well and were better at pressing. We often let FC Porto play with their goalkeeper, because they expected us to go for the ball and leave one of their players free, but we were more intelligent in that approach. We were always building play and taking the ball forward, and after the first ten minutes we settled into FC Porto's half and created more opportunities", he began by analysing.

“Even so, we have a lot to improve in all aspects, as we lost the ball a lot. I remember at least two or three passes by Diomande, without pressure on him, in which the ball went out. These details sometimes make it difficult to have a more fluid game. The play inside was very stifled and sometimes we need those moments, as we only had one or two with Morita and Gonçalves. We tried to play our game, against difficult opponents, but we were always the team that came closest to scoring and pushed the most in search of the victory. We ended up achieving that".

Amorim highlighted the improvement in the team since the most recent editions of the fixture. “Winning this game obviously gives us an advantage, boosts the team's morale before the international break and is very important, but it doesn't say anything about what will happen in the season as a whole, while the other games we played against FC Porto had trophies at stake. That will always be there and should be there. Those two games had different stories, but today we were more complete throughout the game. Even halfway through the second half, when FC Porto were playing better, I felt that the team were not nervous. We are growing and still have a lot to grow in, as there are many weaknesses that will still be exposed in Champions League games. We have to make the most of every minute to work”, he said.

The coach was also asked whether the choice of Geny Catamo on the left flank should be maintained, given that the Mozambican scored the second goal shortly after replacing Geovany Quenda on the right.

“Geny will compete with Quenda on the right wing. Geny, even though he was tired, broke up an FC Porto team that had much more space. We also have to look at the number of times Quenda took the ball forward and didn’t let Galeno get away... One thing leads to another, Quenda did the dirty work and then Geny used his strength, pressed less, played a little lower and helped us out. Now, we have to have two players per position and Geny will return to the right. But when he has to play on the left, he will do so again".

As for Viktor Gyökeres, the forward who was once again crucial and scored the first goal of the match, the coach was pleased with the Swede’s performance.

“He is a different player from everyone else in the league. He was very competent defensively, more so than in the last two games, but also because he needed it more. He also has a level of fitness that, three games after undergoing surgery, he is already starting to have the ability to get the numbers he used to in terms of metres covered and high intensity. He is a very important player for us and he gives us an advantage. When we defend lower down, we know that we always have a tall, blonde guy ready to receive the ball in space - and it is very difficult to stop him. I am very happy with Viktor”, he stressed.

Amorim was asked if, after Pedro Gonçalves’ performance, he was his favourite player.

“I can’t say that because they are all my favourites. However, Pote is a special player in every way. I wouldn’t swap him for anyone else and, if I were anywhere else, he would probably be the first player I would want to bring in, because he can do everything. He is a central midfielder, but if I put him on the wing he knows how to play there. I don’t do that because I wouldn’t like it to be done to me either. He is a very special player for me”, admitted the coach.

In closing, he downplayed the importance of the victory, which allows Sporting CP to maintain their 100% winning record in Liga Portugal.

“The objective is still very far away. You don’t even look at the table at this stage of the season. Obviously it’s good to have four wins and a two-goal advantage in the head-to-head with FC Porto, and everything is important, but there is still a lot of time left. Three points is coverable in just one matchday and there are teams that can catch us; we might not even finish the matchday in first place because of goals scored"..