The coach analyses the 1-2 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt

In his post-match press conference following the defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim analysed a loss that means his side will now play in the Europa League.

"The match was divided and not very well played by us," he lamented. 

“Sometimes there was a lack of confidence in the team with the ball, but Eintracht Frankfurt weren't the better side. We had more chances and controlled the game better, but we didn't take advantage of some passes when the opposition opened up the central midfield. They barely had a shot on goal. The penalty didn't improve the game because they didn't put any more pressure on us, but then with a long ball they scored their second goal. That's the story of the game. It was very evenly matched and went the other team's way."

“It has been a difficult season so far, and what the coach can do is the same as always: Work hard every day and defend the players, because they give their best. It's okay to admit  that it hasn't been enough. When we look at our play, something is missing, especially at a time in which we have less confidence. The only way to turn this around is to work hard, win games, score goals and not suffer. There is no magic formula.”

Amorim then explained his choice to start Pedro Gonçalves in midfield. 

“We looked at where we have more players and  Gonçalves has experience there, as he was a central midfielder before. I thought it gave us more stability, and the first half showed that. It's an option we have, because he carried the ball forward. The player who scored our goal was the one who played in his position, Arthur Gomes."

To close, he justified bringing in Dário Essugo and Francisco Trincão off the bench.

“They were ready to come on before the penalty. Marcus Edwards was not doing well in the game and Manuel Ugarte was very tired from the first half. We looked at the players we had for those positions. Trincão usually plays there and Dário, who is the only one who can act as a defensive midfielder, did very well. There was no management of fatigue, as this game was decisive and a final," he said.

"They gave everything. We wanted to have fresh players and keep our idea going. It was a forced substitution, as I wasn't going to take Ugarte off because even though he was tired, he was a player who always fought a lot -with and without the ball."

A 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt means the team will now play in the Europa League

Sporting Clube de Portugal bowed out of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 6 of the Group Stage. With this result, they now drop into the UEFA Europa League, finishing third in the standings with seven points.

Rúben Amorim made six changes to the side that lost against FC Arouca in Liga Portugal the previous Saturday, with several returns to the starting lineup. Jeremiah St. Juste entered the defence and Pedro Porro and Nuno Santos returned to the wings, Manuel Ugarte came back into central midfield, partnering with Pedro Gonçalves, and Paulinho and Marcus Edwards were used in the attack alongside Arthur.

Sporting CP had previously beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 in Germany, and came into the game at the Estádio José Alvalade needing only a draw to progress in the competition.

Several attacks from the wings opened the contest, and Edwards was the first to create danger, taking advantage of a loose ball in the area following a free-kick, but opposition goalkeeper Kevin Trapp made the save. At the other end, Evan N'Dicka's header required a huge stop by Antonio Adán.

More proactive than their opponents, Sporting CP lacked the final ball on several promising moves. 

In the 33rd minute, Amorim was forced to make a change, bringing on Matheus Reis to replace Nuno Santos due to injury.

In the 39th minute, Os Leões opened the scoring. Following a move from the right by Edwards, Ugarte received the ball and crossed into the area, where Arthur struck first time into the net. It was the winger's second goal in the UEFA Champions League, having also scored against Tottenham Hotspur.

After the interval, Sporting CP didn't take their foot off the accelerator and went in search of a second goal, but would suffer a harsh setback in the 59th minute, when a penalty was given against Coates for handball in the area. Daichi Kamada converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.

Soon after, Dário Essugo (making his first appearance in the competition this season) and Francisco Trincão came in for Ugarte and Edwards.

Eintracht Frankfurt gained motivation and created several moves that provided danger. With 72 minutes gone, Kolo Muani consummated the comeback with a goal that took the score to 1-2.

St. Juste went off for Jovane Cabral, with Matheus Reis dropping back into the defense and Arthur moving to the wing, and Sporting CP spent the following moments on the attack, although without being able to test Trapp.

In the last two moves of the game, Adán went upfield for two corners that could have led to an equaliser, but Os Leões were unable to find the goal that they needed and lost 1-2.

Sporting CP will now have to wait for a draw to find out their opponents in the UEFA Europa League, but first they will host Vitória SC this Saturday, November 5th, at home.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adan, [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste (Jovane Cabral, 78'), Sebastián Coates, [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Dário Essugo, 63'), Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis, 33'), Arthur, Marcus Edwards ( Francisco Trincao, 63') and Paulinho.

The defender addresses the media ahead of the Champions League match

Pedro Porro spoke in the press conference ahead of Sporting CP's game against Eintracht Frankfurt, scheduled for this Tuesday at the Estádio José Alvalade, and said he did not expect an easy game, but is confident.

“It will be a difficult game, like all of them are. I don't see any difference compared to the game in Germany. They are a great team and they have shown why they are in the Champions League. As for us, we are focused on winning and that's what we're going to do," he stated.

The Spanish international also spoke about the green defence and the amount of goals conceded by Sporting CP this season, commenting that “the opposition also have their merits. We've had good games at this level and we're focused on improving the defensive line, but there are games in which things don't go so well. Tomorrow we want them to go well and we are focused on that.”

“The team are doing well. We are focused on what we have to do and on winning tomorrow, as well as being confident. That's what we're going to try to show," he underlined.

The coach looks at the game against Eintracht Frankfurt

Sporting Clube de Portugal play their sixth and final game of the Champions League group stage against Eintracht Frankfurt this Tuesday, needing only a point to advance in the competition. However, in his pre-match press conference, coach Rúben Amorim explained that he wants more than a draw.

“We haven't even talked about a draw. We have to win and be aware of the moment we are in, in which any ball that goes near our goal goes in. It's about scoring and not suffering. It's true that we can depend on two results, and in the end we can adapt accordingly, but at the beginning of the game it would be a mistake to think about just taking a point,” he began by saying.

“There is no advantage for us, and we know that needing just a point will not have an impact. Eintracht have changed their formation since the last game against us, and went back to what they did mostly last year - waiting more for the opposition - and they've done well with that return to their roots. In Germany they put a lot of pressure on us, but we had the ball and we were able to take advantage of that space in the second half. It's a completely different team, and they are scoring a lot of goals in the German league. At the beginning of the game the requirements won't have any influence, but at the end we'll see if we have to adapt or not."

"I'm confident of a good result and trust the team a lot. I don't think there is a lack of confidence in our team . What we lack is conviction, not the technical side. The year we were champions, you felt something was going to happen, and now it's the other way around and it's hard to explain that to the players. Everything changes and we have everything needed to win," he explained.

“I think this year the opponents are actually having more difficulties in stopping us because we have created more opportunities, but we have not been able to score. It's easier for us to create, and we control our opponents' attacks better, but from one distraction or another we concede goals," Amorim lamented.

"The ability to react to bad times is lacking and that wears out the team. We have to seek strength, as that's football. There are good things in bad times, and we learn in bad times, but there is not much to take away from all this. I'm not much of an advocate of us having to suffer a lot to grow. The good thing about this is that we've already been like this and we were able to turn it around."

The Sporting CP coach gives his thoughts before the meeting with Tottenham Hotspur FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal face Tottenham Hotspur FC in London on Matchday 5 of Group D of the UEFA Champions League this Wednesday.

On the eve of the contest, coach Rúben Amorim stated that the team have to win the game, recalling the first duel between the two teams which ended with a 2-0 victory in Alvalade.

"The two teams had a lot of respect for each other in the first game and they already know each other better, despite Tottenham Hotspur having changed their formation due to injuries up front. We will have to see how we deal with them, with three midfielders and three forwards. The big difference is that tomorrow's result is more decisive," he began by saying in the pre-match press conference.

Regarding his squad, Amorim stated that "Sebastián Coates will be able to play from the beginning. Jeremiah St. Juste will be on the bench, but as always we will pay special attention to him in terms of playing time, because he didn't have a preseason. We have to keep him healthy at least until the World Cup, so he can have his preseason then."

Asked if Paulinho, who scored in the first game against Spurs, could start the match, he responded that: “In our team there are no starters, but there is a group of players who usually start the game. Whether Pedro Gonçalves were available or not, Paulinho would always be an option to come in. He is growing after suffering an injury and we have to make a natural rotation. But I'm not going to reveal whether he's going to play or not."

There was also, inevitably, interest in English forward Marcus Edwards, who has history at Tottenham Hotspur.

"He is a player with a lot of talent. A former coach of his said that he had something Messi-like about him. He went to a good club in Portugal, he developed, he reached a big club, he is growing a lot and playing in the Champions League, and he is mature. The talent is there, but he can improve a lot. He is happy at our club and I wish him a very bright future," he concluded.