The Sporting CP coach looks ahead to the Monday night fixture

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to Vila do Conde, home of Rio Ave FC, for a Monday night fixture on Matchday 19 of the Liga Portugal season.

Ahead of the game, coach Rúben Amorim warned of the quality that the opposition have been showing, recalling that in the last meeting between the two teams Os Leões did not have an easy task despite a 0-2 win.

“We are up against a team who play very well, who like to have the ball and who made life very difficult for us in the first 30 minutes of the Taça da Liga game. We used that game to prepare for this latest challenge, knowing that we have to put together a run of consecutive victories. It is important to keep going off the back of the victory over SC Braga," he began by saying in the press conference, before analysing 11th-placed Rio Ave FC.

“Sometimes they lose the ball because they always want to play out from the goalkeeper. They can play with Boateng and Aziz, who are very strong players. It is difficult to catch the two midfielders when they are very open, and we had difficulties there because it is difficult to cover all the spaces. It's going to be a tough game against a team that play good football."

“We have to be very intense and tire Rio Ave FC out, otherwise they will tire us out -despite the fact that we are in very good shape physically. One-on-one situations will be important, because we use two similar formations, and then we have to have an advantage because we are Sporting CP and we have the responsibility to win the game. It will be a very difficult match, against an excellent team and a coach who has won at all levels."

Amorim was asked about a possible starting role for winter reinforcements Ousmane Diomande and Héctor Bellerín.

“Bellerín is very intelligent, we know him and he has adapted well. He is used to tactical work and understands the game very well. As for Diomande, I am more and more confident that we made an excellent deal by bringing him in. He adapted very well from the first training session and is very strong with and without the ball, so I wouldn't choose anyone else. So much has been said about the price we paid, but I am very confident that we have a great player there. I will only give the starting XI tomorrow, but those two will be in the squad."

As for Youssef Chermiti, the 18-year-old striker who was in the starting lineup and performed well against SC Braga, the coach declined to reveal whether he will be back in from the beginning.

“Chermiti or another player could play. We are leaving it open," he replied coyly.

Even though Nuno Santos is at risk of missing O Clássico with FC Porto if he receives a yellow card, Amorim said that he will keep nothing in reserve.

"We will give everything, obviously. It's important not to say who the striker will be, but Nuno Santos will play. This is the most important game, and Nuno Santos will start. Taking into account what we want for this game, he will play and there will be no holding back."

The coach's thoughts on the 1-0 loss to FC Arouca

Rúben Amorim reacted after Sporting CP's defeat in Arouca, saying that Sporting CP were deserving of all three in Liga Portugal due to their dominance in the game.

“A lack of effectiveness explains the result today and in other games. We couldn't score and in the few opportunities we had against us, we suffered. We were always on top of the game and we couldn't score, then off a set piece we conceded. Now it's time to think about the next game," the coach began by saying, adding: “What matters is winning and winning consecutive games, but we haven't been able to do that. We lack consistency, especially in away games, which is not normal for our team. We have to improve."
Asked about the six changes he made to the starting eleven, Amorim praised the players' response.

“We had more than enough opportunities to win the game. Those who played did well. I trust everyone, we just didn't score. They had commitment and quality."

“This defeat has the same weight as ever. At Sporting CP we have to win, otherwise we go back to the problems that all big clubs have when they don't win. We've turned things around once, twice, and now we're falling into the same situation. It is becoming a difficult time, but we can always turn it around," he stated.

"I am very frustrated, I was not used to it either and we cannot have this inconsistency. I'm demanding. I'm sad because we couldn't win and it's my responsibility. I feel frustration, a very big frustration. I know the fans are not happy, but at the end of the season is when we will do the maths and make our assessment," he concluded.

Sporting CP leave empty handed despite dominant display

Sporting Clube de Portugal fell to a 1-0 defeat against FC Arouca on Matchday 11 of the Liga Portugal season, conceding at the start of the second half.

For this match, coach Rúben Amorim made six changes to his starting eleven from the fame against Tottenham, fielding Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, Dário Essugo, Pedro Gonçalves, Flávio Nazinho, Rochinha, Arthur and Francisco Trincao.

Sporting CP started the game well and dominated throughout the first half, and wasted no time in creating goalscoring opportunities. The first saw Francisco Trincao denied by the goalkeeper, with Arthur's follow-up also kept out.

Next up was Pedro Gonçalves, whose effort was blocked by the FC Arouca defence, after he had broken into the area. Under five minutes later, a free kick for Sporting CP was played by Flávio Nazinho to Gonçalves, who sent it into the box, Gonçalo Inácio heading wide.

Rochinha put in plenty of work on the right channel, and one of his runs to the near post was only prevented from finding the net by Arruabarrena. He then crossed to the far stick, where Trincao failed to hit the target.

In the 40th minute, Antonio Adán was also put to the test, off a quick counterattack by FC Arouca. The goalkeeper Leonino was able to smother Antony's effort.

With five minutes to play until the end of the first half, Sporting CP had two more chances: First for Dário Essugo shooting wide, then for Ricardo Esgaio, whose strike was saved by the goalkeeper.

After the interval, FC Arouca opened the scoring from a corner, as Basso beat the defence and headed in to make it 1-0.

In the 54th minute, Amorim made a triple change, as Jeremiah St. Juste, Pedro Porro and Manuel Ugarte replaced Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio and Dário Essugo. Not five minutes later, Nuno Santos and Marcus Edwards also entered, with Flávio Nazinho and Rochinha making way.

Sporting CP continued to dominate, camped out by the FC Arouca area, but were not able to carve out chances. Porro had the best opportunity, in the 66th minute, but his low shot went just outside the post.

Ugarte then tried to make it 1-1 with two shots that went off target, before Nuno Santos broke into the box and set up Gonçalves -a home defender appearing to cut out the chance.

Sporting CP continued to look for a goal and sent a lot of balls into the area, but Arruabarrena was able to stave off the attacks and provided a huge save from Sebastián Coates on 90 minutes.

In stoppage time, Gonçalves and Arthur both shot off target, as Sporting CP experienced a 1-0 defeat on the road.

Os Leões will be in action again on Tuesday, at the Estádio José Alvalade, against Eintracht Frankfurt in the sixth and final matchday of the Champions League group stage.

The coach looks at Saturday's game in Liga Portugal

Just three days after their win in Frankfurt (0-3) in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal return to Liga Portugal action on Saturday, facing Portimonense SC at Estádio Jose Alvalade.

On the eve of the match, coach Rúben Amorim held a press conference to preview the game, insisting on the need to refocus for the match. 

"The preparation time we've had hasn't been long. We arrived yesterday from Frankfurt and we are already preparing for Portimonense SC, who have five points more than Sporting CP so far this season. Our objective is to move to two points behind them, and we also have to change the type of game that we will play. It's a reset," he began by telling journalists. 

“Portimonense SC will play in a completely different way from what we found in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt," Amorim continued. “We know that Portimonense SC will defend well and try to make our team a little anxious. That was the preparation we did, so we have to use speed and a lot of energy."

 "We know that Portimonense SC have had all week to prepare, they are very motivated and we have to rotate the team because we really have to win the game. It will be different from what we saw in Germany: With even more responsibility on our shoulders, we all have to be prepared for whatever will happen."

Asked about the short period of time between games, Amorim did not hide the fact that "the players are still very tired," but also stressed that "the best way to recover is to beat Portimonense SC. This is what we're going to focus on. Now we have to get our third consecutive victory and move closer to the top of the table."

As for some of the possible changes in Saturday's starting lineup, the coach mentioned that “Paulinho is another option that gives us a different alternative in the centre of the attack,” while new signing Sotiris Alexandropoulos “still needs to get used to the position."

"The entire squad has to be prepared, and the best players for the game will play to go for the win."

To conclude, Amorim pointed out that despite the fact that Sporting CP have not conceded goals in the last two matches, "there are still things to improve."

 "We learn from our mistakes. It will be a difficult game, and we will have to be careful with errors and defending set pieces. We will feel the anxiety of the fans, but we have to maintain our identity."