The coach looks ahead to Sporting CP's second league game

Sporting CP travel south this Sunday for a 9pm kickoff against Portimonense SC, as they play their second game of the season in the Liga NOS.

Before the game at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão, coach Rúben Amorim addressed the midweek elimination from the Europa League at the hands of LASK, and previewed his first game in the dugout this campaign.

“The message I gave to my players was that they shouldn't read the newspapers, and to watch the game without sound to try to understand what we did well and what we didn't. We have taken victories from games in which we played much worse than that day, and the story of the game is what it is: one team wanted to play, another were relying on second balls," he told the media in his press conference.

"I told my players that they gave everything they had. We know it was a harsh result, but I can't ask for anything more from them; they gave everything that they have and we have to move on.".

As for the weekend fixture, Amorim had high praise for Portimonense SC.

“They are a team that have been growing since last season. It will be a tough game, but they are playing against Sporting CP and, therefore, do not have much pressure on them. We played a preseason game against them and we took something away from that match, but this one will be completely different. We have to be ourselves and we have to be very intense in order to win against Portimonense CP.

The coach also revealed that Marcus Wendel will not be available for the game, having missed training during the week with an injury, and promised that a strong lineup will be in place.

“It seems to me that there are many people who have already given up on this team, but for me, as a coach, and for the players who are here, this is only just beginning. We're going to fight, with our ideas and our path. The sky could fall and I would not change the way I am. We will be competitive," he promised.