Sporting Clube de Portugal play this Thursday against FC Vizela on Liga Portugal Matchday 18. In his press conference before the game, Rúben Amorim made it clear that it will not be an easy game and that Sporting CP must have the same spirit they had in Chaves to win.

 

“What we convey to the players is that the last result was very misleading [1-4 away against Boavista FC]. FC Vizela are a team that have 33 shots, have more possession than their opponents and, in my opinion, have an excellent idea of how to play. It was surprising that a coach arrived and in such a short space of time had a team playing in possession very calmly, with a goalkeeper who was almost, at times, in midfield, and then there is the risk of conceding goals like they did in the last game. Our main focus was to demonstrate to players, with footage, that in football the result does not always tell the whole story. We know it will be a difficult game and we have to understand that the conditions could be the same as we had in Chaves. We have to have the same spirit, adapt to the conditions and win the game however we can. It's a game that we know will be very difficult. Every team, even though they are fighting for their lives, have a strong identity and make it as difficult as possible,” he began by saying.

“I expect a second half of the season that will be even more difficult than the first. What we have to think about is that each game has its own story and that the table doesn't matter. If we win, no one can overtake us. Therefore, that is our motto, so to speak."

 

“The first three games were very important. Against FC Vizela we won at the last minute and I think that has a lot of influence on how the season unfolds. In key moments we were somewhat lucky, we weren't chasing a leader and that gave us peace of mind, our players grew and Viktor Gyökeres and Morten Hjulmand gave things to the team that, perhaps, we didn't have before. It fit together well, but I would say that there are a lot of key factors: We started well and we were never chasing. This helped us to have completely different results. Obviously we learn from our mistakes and we are doing everything better, but we are only halfway through the season. It is the end that matters."
He also provided an update on Jeremiah St. Juste.

 

“There was no relapse, it was a different injury that he suffered. He fell badly on his foot. He will not be called up to the squad because he asked for time to train. He was ready to train, but today, while the others did tactical and fitness training for the game, he stayed on the pitch doing specific work so that, when he is cleared and we feel he could be an option, he can start being called up. What I can say to Sportinguistas is that we are stronger with St. Juste in the squad and, finally, say that nothing is fatal. If he has another injury, we will do the same thing."

 

 Asked about Viktor Gyökeres, who hasn't scored in the last few games, he commented “I would say he's like Pote. You said that Pote was having a bad season and he has already reached ten goals in the middle of the season. So, if he scores ten more, he hits the target. That's just football. The same thing I said about Pote applies to Viktor: He gives us much more than goals: He gives assists, opens up space and always has two opposition players with him. I'm not worried about that at all. He is the player who gets angriest, by far, about not scoring. So my concern is that he doesn't get anxious about it. He has now gone three games without scoring and things have continued to work out. He is a very happy player, who is also mature.”

 

Since it is January and the transfer market is open until the end of the month, Amorim was once again asked about the topic and said that, for him, "I would already close it today."

“When I think about the transfer window, I also think about the Asian Cup and the CAN. We just want to make it until February 11th, which is as far as those competitions can go, and have all the players back here. Therefore, more than those coming in, we want to ensure that players do not leave and that we have all the players so that, from then on, we can manage things, because we have a start to February that will be even worse than January, with games every three days and sometimes every two.”