The coach talks about Saturday's Liga Portugal contest

Sporting Clube de Portugal return to domestic competitions this Saturday, away to FC Famalicão in Liga Portugal.

In his pre-match press conference, coach Rúben Amorim said that he envisions a match with a high degree of difficulty, against opponents seventh in the table.

“FC Famalicão do very well at their home stadium and it is very difficult to beat coach [Armando] Evangelista's teams. It took us a long time to beat FC Famalicão and last year that was a very important step towards us winning the title. This year we hope for the same," he said.

“They are a team that only have one defeat in the league, are always difficult to win against and have talented players. They like these big games, because a lot of them are in the formative stages of their careers and the talent is there, so they feel very comfortable in these matches. They defend well and make excellent transitions. This year they are playing differently and the characteristics of the players have changed. Sometimes they play with a false nine, which is very different from what happened with [Jhonder] Cádiz, who was stronger on headers than supporting teammates. At the moment, [Oscar] Aranda is in this position a lot. We expect a tough game.”

Amorim later admitted that the fact that FC Famalicão's defence, which has only conceded four goals so far, required tactical preparation.

“We spent a lot of time, especially today, on this specific aspect. They don't give you much space, they have a routine between the fullback and the centre back that is very interesting in how they mark our two players in the middle. We pay a lot of attention to this and to the positioning of the central midfielders as well. That was the focus today because we didn't have more time, but it's easier for us because the players already know the positions very well and know what we want on the pitch. Now is a time in which we have to win difficult games. That’s the goal.”

He revealed that Marcus Edwards and Eduardo Quaresma will be absent for this game and that Ousmane Diomande and Jeremiah St. Juste are back fit.

“We have more options and this helps us manage the games, especially because many competitions are coming up. Gonçalo Inácio has not been resting and, during the international break, he wasn't training. He hasn't maintained his fitness, so it's a difficult balance. He has sacrificed himself for the team. Matheus Reis will not be able to play the entire game. Diomande, as he is more physically robust, will be able to start. Let's see how he performs because he hasn't trained much with the team. But we have to look at each case individually and if he has recovered from the sprain, we’ll see what happens.”

Amorim was also pleased with the return of Pedro Gonçalves, who played minutes against SK Strum Graz after several weeks out injured.

“It will still take time to get him back up to speed, but it is excellent news. He could be on the bench or be a starter, he just can't play the whole game. If he starts, he will have to come off, that's guaranteed. Let's see if he plays from the start or if he comes on later."

He was then asked if he believes that the team are capable of making history, with the possible first Liga Portugal title defence in 70 years and reaching, for the first time in over 40 years, the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League.

“I already said that we are prepared and at a different level, but I don't want to increase the pressure on the team. That's the ambition. I think we have the capacity to do it. But we need luck, competence and good fortune with injuries too. I would say that is our ambition. Let's wait and not say anything about it now, because it only increases the pressure. We want to win the title, obviously. Everyone's efforts to maintain the squad was with the idea of becoming two-time champions, something that hasn't happened in 70 years. This takes us into the Champions League again and we can compensate for the financial outlay. We really want to make history, and will see how the games go.”

"We will now have a game against FC Famalicão. We had the Champions League game away, then we have the Taça da Liga game to go to the Final Four, then CD Estrela da Amadora, Manchester City FC in the Champions League and SC Braga away. We have a set of games in which, if we perform and win, it sends a message to us and to everyone outside. I would say it is a very important month," he highlighted.