​The coach is philosophical about the 0-5 defeat to Manchester City

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim was naturally dissatisfied with the defeat against Manchester City FC, but said that he was “proud” with the players and also with the Sportinguistas for the support given to the team.

“The fans always support us, but today was really different. I had never seen anything like this. I think people are aware of the differences between the two teams and know what we are doing -and that it takes time. We already knew it was going to be a difficult game against what could be the best team in the world,” he began by saying in his post-match press conference.

“I think we started well, but we conceded the first goal in a moment in which we switched off. Then we tried again, but City always scored whenever they went forward. That demonstrates what a team they are. From the third goal onwards, it became about suffering and not about football."

“They scored five goals from six shots. For me, that is to the opposition's credit, but we could have performed better and not had lapses. There was a ball in which we slipped up, for the third goal. You have nights like this. It happened to us against AFC Ajax and it happened to us today, but in the same way that we turned things around after that game, now we can turn around for what's left of the season and work for the future, because this doesn't end here. It's a constant process and we have to make Sporting CP a better club.”

“I don't see any similarities with the game against Ajax. Today the team were not nervous, and we have grown a lot since that match. We have to take away the good things from this game even though it was tough and the second leg will be too, but we will grow from it."

“I am proud of the players and also the fans,” stressed the coach. “Although we lost in the way that we did, the support we received has a big effect and allows us to see that what we are doing makes sense. The leap up we made from one point to the next has consequences, and we have already paid two or three times for that growth. Nothing will stop us from achieving our goals. One thing is for sure: Sporting CP will be better in the future and the club will fight for trophies."

“All clubs needed time and to spend money to grow and become the great European clubs they are today, and we are going the same way. We are doing so without the same amount of money, but we have our fans and players with a lot of potential, and we've also been working well. We all need to evolve. It will take time, but we have already proven that we are fighting for trophies. It's not just any team that can reach this stage of the Champions League," Amorim expressed.