The coach provides his assessment of a win over CD Tondela

Rúben Amorim was satisfied with an 11th consecutive win for Sporting Clube de Portugal in all competitions, but reflected on things that his side could have done better against CD Tondela.

“We grew during the game. We started off quickly and we scored the goal, but from there we switched off and let CD Tondela have some of the ball, meaning we had to accelerate to recover it. We lacked some energy in the first half, but in the second half we were different. We stepped up a gear again, as we knew we needed to score another goal because the game was always dangerous, and we got better. It was a fair result in a game that was always difficult. All games are, but we were deserved winners,” began the coach.

The goals were scored by Pablo Sarabia and Paulinho, but the coach explained that he looks more at the overall performance of each player -and not just the goals.

“I don't know if this is the best moment of form for this attacking trio, and even today I think they didn't have a great game. I'm happy that they scored, but they also know what they did in the first half and in the second," he said, speaking in particular about Paulinho: "Today he scored and we are grateful for it, but he also has to continue doing what he does very well."
Amorim also made mention of João Palhinha, who got injured during the game.

 “Palhinha was about to go off before. It's one of those unlucky things, but we have to wait for the results of his tests tomorrow. There is always the risk of him missing the game against SL Benfica, and everyone knows he is a very important player for us, but if he isn't there, Palhinha will be another member of the squad supporting us. We are going to play with eleven players and we are going to fight for the victory."

The Sporting CP coach was also asked about the match between Belenenses SAD and SL Benfica, which featured the home side being unable to field 11 players due to positive COVID-19 tests and the game eventually being abandoned.

 “It is a strange situation. Sporting CP have already said so in a statement. It cannot happen again, and we have to find a solution. We can't be having big European nights and then messing things up. Everyone saw it. It was all very strange.”

A 2-0 home win against CD Tondela prepares the team for the derby

Sporting Clube de Portugal bested CD Tondela 2-0 at home on Matchday 12 of the Liga Portugal season, making them the outright leaders in the league table.

Four days after the victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, the team returned to the Estádio José Alvalade with a changed starting XI: Rúben Amorim made three adjustments, fielding Antonio Adán, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates , Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos, Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves.

Gonçalo Inácio provided the first warning to the opposition, just two minutes into the game, with a shot from outside the area, but ended up not troubling goalkeeper Trigueira.

However, soon after, on 10 minutes, a clever team move led to a shot by Paulinho in the box. Luís Neto turned the intercepted ball over to Pablo Sarabia, and the Spanish international, beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. The goal would stand after a VAR check revealed that a CD Tondela defender has touched the ball after Luís Neto.

Sporting CP were in front and controlling the game, but a CD Tondela side weakened by absences due to positive COVID-19 tests showed that they were not going to make it easy. They responded with a shot by Dadashov and another by Rafael Barbosa -a former Sporting CP youth player.

In the second half, Os Leões regrouped and focused on getting a second goal. A first chance of the period fell to Sarabia, but it was Paulinho who made it 2-0; A combination between Sarabia and Nuno Santos saw the former shooting and Trigueira parrying, with Pedro Gonçalves collecting the rebound to set up Paulinho.

A first substitution led to Daniel Bragança replacing Matheus Nunes, before Pedro Gonçalves forced Trigueira to make a good save, as well as deny Sarabia on the follow-up.

In the 67th minute, Amorim made three changes at once, as João Palhinha, Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos made way for Manuel Ugarte, Tiago Tomás and Flávio Nazinho -the latter having made his debut in the Champions League in midweek.

In the last twenty minutes, Antonio Adán was also called upon to intervene, denying the visiting team a consolation goal. He kept out an effort from Rafael Barbosa off a direct freekick.

The team took a comfortable win that sets them up well for the Derby da Capital, which takes place on Friday against SL Benfica at the Estádio da Luz.

The coach's briefing for the game against CD Tondela

This Sunday, Sporting Clube de Portugal welcome CD Tondela on Matchday 12 of the Liga Portugal season, and coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference ahead of the contest.

"We want to read the game very well. We know the danger that we face," he warned. "CD Tondela have had time to prepare the game, and come to Alvalade motivated. We have to be even more motivated, knowing that one result can spoil all that we have been doing; that's why we play for a big club. We want to maintain our position and that's what we'll try to do."

Asked about the COVID-19 cases in the CD Tondela squad, which include their coach, Pako Ayestarán, Amorim commented that "it is always a difficult moment, but the teams are prepared. It's always better to have the coach with the team. The impact of having COVID-19 cases in the squad, whether it be the coach or players, is always unpleasant. I hope that he recovers quickly. However, they have already been working for more than a year with this coaching staff, and they will be prepared for the game," he said.

One player who will be available to CD Tondela, on loan from Sporting CP, is Eduardo Quaresma, and the Sporting CP coach has been keeping an eye on the young defender: "Quaresma had the opportunity here and we understood that he should play regularly. He's making progress on his own path, and we really believe in him. He has to improve and work hard to do well and return to Sporting CP."

In the last fixture, against Borussia Dortmund, Amorim handed a debut to Flávio Nazinho, who indicated that "signs and experience are being given to the players so that, in the future, they can be part of the first team. It is part of our project and we hope that, after [Flávio] Nazinho, many others will come through."

After the CD Tondela game, Sporting CP will visit SL Benfica, but Amorim emphasised that this is not the focus at the moment.

"I know my players. They know that an influence the CD Tondela game will have on my starting XI for the next game. It's the biggest motivation they can have. I trust everyone, and anyone who doesn't play well against CD Tondela won't play against SL Benfica. All it takes is a draw to destroy everything we've built in recent months. We have to win. If a bad result happens against CD Tondela, but the team give everything, then there is no problem. If we behave in a way which is not in line with the greatness of Sporting CP, then players could lose their places."

Finally, Amorim was clear in response to rumors about his future.

"I'm coach at Sporting CP, I have a contract with Sporting CP, and I'm very happy at Sporting CP. This is where I shall continue."

Sporting CP coach reflects on 0-1 victory over CD Tondela

Following a 0--1 win away to CD Tondela, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim revealed his delight at the team's determination to take the three points in the Liga NOS encounter.

"I'm very satisfied with their performance. The danger that CD Tondela gave us was because we lost the ball without much pressure on us. We were looking for a goal from the get-go, whilst CD Tondela put a lot of people behind the ball. We had some good crosses but we couldn't score from them," he said in his post-match press conference.
"We will improve in every aspect. We almost afforded CD Tondela no chances at all. The game had only one team in it."

"What I didn't like about the game against CD Santa Clara was that we let the game run away from us. Not today. We didn't let CD Tondela have the ball, and whenever we lost it we were able to react. We have a lot to improve, but I am much more satisfied today than against CD Santa Clara," he assured.

"Tiago Tomás did a great job. He missed one or two chances and then scored his goal. He deserved it, the team deserved it and I think that the remaining games will all be like this," he told journalists at the Estádio João Cardoso.

"In the second half, we tried not to fall into the trap of getting anxious about searching for the ball. We have a lot to improve, but we do a lot of things well already. CD Tondela were on a run of five straight wins here. here. It's always difficult, but we ended up winning," he continued.

The coach also revealed that he "expected a game like this" and highlighted the difficulty of winning in Tondela.

"We saw a better CD Tondela compared to what we saw at the Estádio José Alvalade. A goal sometimes unlocks the door, and we are very effective. We weren't able to take advantage of some chances, and there are always things to improve, but we must remember that it is always a difficult place to win at, and Sporting CP won tonight."

Amorim also commented on two players brought up by the media, saying of Gonçalo Inácio that "We will take advantage of his characteristics. He is very fast," and of  Luís Neto that "he is very important to our team. He has had a great season, but he had a problem with COVID-19 and [Gonçalo] Inácio took over his spot."

Finally, the coach made a pledge to supporters.

"We promise a lot of hard work, and we will face the games with the same intensity, knowing that it will get increasingly difficult. We promise a few moments not for the faint-hearted, and some headaches, but we hope that there will be happiness in the end.

Goal in 82nd minute hands Sporting CP 0-1 win

A late goal from Tiago Tomás earned Sporting Clube de Portugal the three points against CD Tondela, in a hard-fought away trip on Matchday 23 of the Liga NOS season.
Sporting CP welcomed Pedro Porro back from injury to feature in the starting lineup, with he and Nuno Santos replacing Matheus Nunes and Bruno Tabata.

The first shot came precisely from Porro after just five minutes, as he struck an effort into a defender. Sporting CP enjoyed more of the possession than their opponents, who mostly held back with the strategy of hitting on the counter.

After a first quarter of an hour without much activity from either goalkeeper, Sebastián Coates headed a corner towards goal that was kept out by Trigueira. Shortly afterwards, it was Zouhair Feddal who glanced a Porro cross off target. Between the sticks for Sporting CP, Antonio Adán made his first stop on 25 minutes.

The team came close once again before the half hour, as Tiago Tomás and Nuno Santos had shots closed down and go wide, respectively.

The best chance of the first half was produced by another cross from Porro, which Tiago Tomás was inches away from nodding in. Thus, the team went into the break with 6 shots to CD Tondela's 1, and 68% possession, but no reward.

CD Tondela were stronger when the action resumed, and Adán had to save a Murillo shot early on. There was a let-off when Mario González,  completely alone just metres out, failed to connect.
In the 55th minute, referee Nuno Almeida showed a straight red card to João Pereira, who was on the bench, meaning he will miss the team's next fixture.

Rúben Amorim made changes with half an hour to go, bringing on Daniel Bragança in place of Nuno Santos and switching João Mário switched to the right.

Coates was denied an almost certain goal when his header was kept out by Trigueira, as the crosses continued to be floated into the box. Tiago Tomás and Gonçalo Inácio would nod efforts wide, before Amorim shuffled the pack again: Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro and João Mário left were replaced by Matheus Reis, Bruno Tabata and Jovane Cabral, and the latter two combined for another dangerous header off target.

The persistence finally paid off in the 82nd minute, finally converting one of the constant crosses delivered in: Nuno Mendes sent the ball in from the left, Pedro Gonçalves tried to finish, and it instead fell to Tiago Tomás. The youngster finished clinically, for another massively important goal.

One save from Adán from a Tiago shot later, and the final whistle was blown. Sporting CP kept another clean sheet, and continue standing firm at the top of the table ahead of their meeting with Vitória SC at the Estádio José Alvalade Stadium next weekend.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal (Bruno Tabata, 72'), Pedro Porro (Jovane Cabral, 72'), João Mário (Matheus Reis, 72'), João Palhinha, Nuno Mendes, Pedro Gonçalves (Matheus Nunes, 85'), Nuno Santos (Daniel Bragança, 60') and Tiago Tomás. Unused substitutes: Luís Maximiano [GK], Luís Neto, João Pereira and Vitorino Antunes.