​The coach reflects positively on the 3-0 triumph over FC Vizela

After the dust settled in his side's Friday fixture against FC Vizela, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match in his post-match press conference. He showed his satisfaction with the 3-0 triumph and a first three points of the season.

“It seemed like a good performance from us; we had a good game," he told journalists. "We started well. FC Vizela came out very aggressive in their marking, following our players and defending well. We knew this was going to happen because they were so motivated for the match. However, we were able to have the ball and create space, and we had some crosses that we could have finished better. We also had a missed penalty.”

“In the second half we knew that it would be difficult for FC Vizela to keep up the pressure that they had sometimes and we scored our first goal. After making it 1-0, even though we switched off a little for ten minutes, we continued to play better. The second and third goals came naturally. We had a good performance,” he reflected, before being asked about the showing by brace-scorer Pedro Gonçalves.

“I think we are all in agreement that in the first half he didn't do as well as expected. Nevertheless, the way he finished in the second half is not normal. He is one of those players who can go missing from the game, but who has an advantage with his coach because we are always expecting something to happen from him. He's a special player in that regard. If he has the objective of becoming the league's top scorer again, then that's good and it helps us.”

The Sporting CP also made a positive assessment of the performances made by newcomers Ricardo Esgaio and Rúben Vinagre.

“Last season we had Antunes and João Pereira in those positions, who gave us a lot, but these two are more like the defenders who played the most last season: Porro and Nuno Mendes. Of course, Esgaio is not the same at taking people on as Porro, but he has great physical ability and already knows the ideas the team have. The option of bringing in Esgaio or Vinagre was often questioned because we already had quality players in these positions. The fans were more eager for other positions to be filled more urgently, but even in that regard I've been lucky, because the two who play in their spots are injured at the start of the championship and the two players we brought in are available.

Finally, Amorim acknowledged that the team “might be under more pressure” after being crowned champions last year, but reiterated that the focus is always on the next game.

“We cannot control what people might say about us or the pressure we might have on us. This is the best way to take things and to move forward. We go game by game. We won the Supertaça, we won the first game of the league season, and now we have a game in Braga, which is always very difficult. We're going to prepare for it in the best way,” he affirmed.