The Sporting CP coach gives his preview of the 'Clássico'

Just over 24 hours removed from this Saturday's 'Clássico' (8:30 pm) against FC Porto, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim spoke to the media about the team's big game against their northern rivals.

Players returning

“We were without Eduardo Quaresma for a while, since he was already out of action due to a positive COVID-19 test that delayed his start to the season. We always make the most of what we have; we had some players away with the national team, but others were training this week. For example, João Mário has just arrived and has adapted well to the group. There were players whose fitness we managed to improve, and others who played one game for Portugal but then did not play in the second game -which helped our preparation for this match. We will definitely be a very competitive side in this match, and we will grow game by game."

Differences between Sporting CP and FC Porto

“We are two teams in different moments. FC Porto have won two titles in three years and we are building a foundation. We are starting out. Now we are building a squad with young talents and some experienced players. A Clássico is a Clássico. Whoever wins the game will be the better side; it's always like that. I see a strong FC Porto. Two weeks ago, away to Boavista, FC Porto won 0-5 and were a solid team. That's what they are. Sporting CP are growing in quality."

João Mário

“João Mário is a player with great quality and a lot of experience. I didn't know him personally before, but he brings a presence to the team, even in training and in the way he communicates with his teammates. He will provide us with good things, but he will have to run a lot as well. He has already realised that, to take anyone's place, he will have to work hard. I am sure he will help us a lot during the season.”

The keys to the game

“What Sporting CP have to do is match the intensity and aggressiveness of FC Porto. This is a very important thing. We have to be very strong in our approach to the game. FC Porto have strengths, but Sporting CP also have ours. We are teams who already know each other well, and we know the characteristics of the FC Porto players. But if I had to mention something that Sporting CP have to do, it is to launch ourselves headfirst into the game. You have to be very strong and intense to want to win. You can't be afraid of anything and have to face the game with a lot of aggression."

"I want to show Sportinguistas and everyone else what I am really worth"

João Palhinha has extended his contract at Sporting Clube de Portugal through to 2025. The midfielder, whose buyout clause has been set at 60 million euros, spoke to Sporting CP media on Wednesday to express his excitement at the new deal.

"I am very happy to sign another contract renewal with one of the clubs that helped make me who I am, and that played a very important role in my growth," he explained.

Palhinha joined the club at a young age from SG Sacavenense. He has played for the B team and on loan at Moreirense FC (in 2015/2016), CF Os Belenenses (in 2016/2017) and SC Braga, where he spent the last two seasons. Now he has returned to Alvalade, looking to have an extended run in the first team.

"I want to offer a different image of myself to the one I left in the past. I want to show Sportinguistas and everyone else what I am really worth. I know that the people in this club believe in me."

Responding to rumours of his possibly considering leaving the club this past summer, Palhinha emphasised that it was this need to show his value that drove him to stay.

"If I had left Sporting CP, as was being speculated so much, then I would perhaps have left in a way that wasn't consistent with the journey I have been on at this club. Leaving the first team with that feeling of not having shown my potential would always leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm facing this new opportunity with the utmost motivation and I want to help the club to achieve its goals," he guaranteed.

Palhinha has already worked with Rúben Amorim, and says that he admires the Sporting CP boss.

"He is a coach who knows the qualities I have. On a personal level I like him very much, because of the empathy I have with him. That's why I say that I have everything on my side to demonstrate my worth - and the team do as well."

"We know that the group has quality, is young and has a lot of potential. We have an excellent squad and I believe we can cause a surprise throughout this season. We can promise that we will provide a lot of work, effort and dedication. As for everything else, things are going to happen naturally, just as they have done up until now. The important thing now is to work in the same way as we have been, to evolve in the aspects that we have to evolve in. As I said, we have everything in place to surprise people this season."

The goalkeeper reflect on his opening months at Sporting CP

Sporting CP's starting goalkeeper in the first four official matches played this season, Antonio Adán has been the most frequently featured of the club's summer signings to date. The Spaniard talked to Sporting CP Media during the international break, giving the lowdown on how things are going since his arrival.

Integrating into the group
"The group have made me very welcome from the start. I was told that this was a young and pleasant group for players. I think that both I and the new players have integrated very well. Due to the circumstances we have had to spend a lot of time together, first in preseason and then because of the COVID-19 isolation. That actually made my integration easier."

The combination of youth and experience
"I believe that the combination of youth with experience is what makes the group a good one. The older players bring experience and the younger players the daring of those who are starting out -in addition to the quality of Sporting CP's academy system. We are creating a strong group, which means good expectations. When I was in other countries I saw that there were always many Portuguese players being signed by other teams. Now that I'm here, I realise that the quality is very high. We have some very good young players that I am sure will reach the highest level."

Internal competition
"The more competition there is within the squad, the better it is for everyone on an individual, collective and club level. It makes everyone evolve and ensures that everyone is at full strength. It allows the team to grow."

The game against Porto
"Both I and the rest of the group have prepared for this game just like we prepared for all the previous games. In the end, it's three more points at stake. Of course, for Sportinguistas this is more important than that, as it is one of Liga NOS' biggest matches. Obviously, after having played in other big games in Spain, I also want to do it in Portugal. However, I think that we are preparing in the same way that we prepared for the previous two games. It's the path we have to follow until the end of the season, preparing each game as if it were a final."

"I understand that for fans there is an added importance in it being a chance to beat a direct rival, but for us it's just three more points. I understand everything that surrounds the game: When we walk down the street, the fans stop us to talk about it, but we have to be calm and remember that it's just another three points."

A possible return for fans
"It is difficult for us, not having them here. Especially for this club, the fans are very important for those of us on the pitch. What I have been told is that they help a lot, and that is very important to us. Fortunately, in specific games, such as Portugal vs. Spain, we have already seen some fans in the stands. On the previous matchdays in the league there were fans in the game between CD Santa Clara and Gil Vicente FC, and that gives us hope that, soon, we will have our fans in the stadium. I hope it will be as soon as possible, because we need them and I personally want to see what the stadium is like with people in the stands. Football is for fans. Football without spectators is missing something."

Rúben Amorim's coaching methods
"I spoke to the coach before coming here, and his ideas transmitted a lot of personality and a way of playing that fits my ideas, because I played like that at Real Betis Balompié. He likes his teams to show personality on the pitch, and I think this is ideal for a club like Sporting CP, who have to dominate the game and go after the three points."

Specific goalkeeping training
"I'm delighted to be working with Tiago Ferreira and Jorge Vital, the club's goalkeeping coaches. At the beginning I was more tired; I was coming from Atletico Madrid, where there were a lot of matches and the training was not that intense. I'm really enjoying it. Vital has many years of experience, and Tiago compliments him in a brilliant way. We have done a great job over the past few weeks."
 
"I have always kept in mind that hard work is the most important thing. Having the opportunity to do specific goalkeeping work for so many days during the week is essential for me. Our position is based on confidence, and being able to work for so much time with two people who are so well prepared makes me much more confident going into a game."

One week out from the game against FC Porto

With one eye on the return to Liga NOS action next weekend, Sporting Clube de Portugal undertook a Saturday morning session at the Academia Sporting.

The training session was less intense than that of Friday, but featured the same dedication and will to work from the players present. Amongst them were João Silva and Mees de Wit from the B team, who were called up by coach Rúben Amorim to participate.

Jovane Cabral was given individual exercises on the pitch, as well as physio treatment, whilst Zouhair Feddal and Andraž Šporar engaged in rehabilitation work.

The Lions will be back training on Sunday at Alcochete, in a 10am session held behind closed doors.

Recapping the movements in the market made by Sporting CP

The transfer market closed in Portugal at midnight on October 6th, thus completing a summer in which Sporting CP made several acquisitions. Below are a list of the players brought into the squad, both on permanent deals and on loan, as well as those that have been sent to other clubs to further their development or sold to free up places in the team.

New signings:

Pedro Gonçalves (FC Famalicão)
Tabata (Portimonense SC)
Zouhair Feddal (Real Betis Balompié)
Nuno Santos (Rio Ave FC)
Vitorino Antunes (Getafe CF)
Antonio Adán (Club Atletico Madrid)

In on loan

João Mário (FC Internazionale Milano)
Pedro Porro (Manchester City FC)

Sales

Wendel (FC Zenit)
Marcos Acuña (Sevilla FC)
Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion FC)
Gelson Dala (Rio Ave FC)
Francisco Geraldes (Rio Ave FC)
Miguel Luís (Vitória SC)*

Out on loan:

Rodrigo Battaglia (Deportivo Alavés)
Abdoulay Diaby (Getafe CF)
Valentin Rosier (Beşiktaş JK)
Idrissa Doumbia (SD Huesca)
Mattheus (Coritiba FC)
Pedro Mendes (UD Almería)
Eduardo Henrique (FC Crotone)

*Sporting CP retain the rights to 50% of any future sale.

Sporting Clube de Portugal welcome the new additions to the squad, and wish those departing all the best in their sporting careers.

Midfielder comes back to Alvalade after four years away

João Mário has rejoined Sporting CP on a loan deal from Internazionale, in an agreement struck on the closing day of the summer transfer window. The midfielder previously spent over a decade at the club, before a series of moves to clubs in Portugal, England, Russia and Italy.

Speaking at his presentation, João Mário said: "I feel great. I always wanted to return to a place where I was happy and where I want to be happy again. It's a great honour to come back to this place that I know well. I am here to help."

The Portuguese international, who won the 2016 European Championships with his country, explained the role that club president Frederico Varandas had in bringing him 'home.' "I have a close relationship with the president, who convinced me to return and made a great effort for me to take this decision. I know the club well, I know the people here and I want to play my best football."

As for his teammates, most of them are players with whom he has not yet become acquainted, but João Mário is looking forward to doing so.

"I've only worked with Seba [Coates]. I also know [Luís] Neto from the national team. The coach is different and I like what I've seen of him: It's a young squad and a young coach with excellent ideas. I have no doubt that I am going to adapt very well, because I identify with the project," he stated.

"Sporting CP have always been a club that have brought through young players. Coming up through that system, it makes me proud to see so many young players in the first team. I want to help them, because I've been through that phase of reaching the first team."

"I'm more mature and more experienced now," continued João Mário. "I left Sporting CP when I was very young. I spent four years away, in which I learned a lot. I had a process of gaining knowledge that was different in other countries."
 
The 27-year-old will once again pull on the No.17 shirt, and the explanation for this is simple.

"I believe that you don't mess with something that works. I like this number a lot. I tried to use it at other clubs, but it wasn't possible. The number 17 becoming available at Sporting CP for me is a sign."

Sporting CP were 0-2 winners in their Liga NOS Matchday3 fixture

Sporting CP made it two wins from as many games in Liga NOS competition this Sunday, winning away to Portimonense SC 0-2 on Matchday 3.

Coach Rúben Amorim was back in the dugout, and he made a series of changes to his starting lineup. Without the injured Andraž Šporar and Jovane Cabral available to him, he put Pedro Gonçalves into the initial XI.

A goal was not long in coming. After five minutes, Nuno Mendes recovered a ball well inside the opposing half, and got past three Portimonense SC players before sending a masterful shot into the bottom corner of the net. A great goal from the 18-year-old made it 0-1 shortly after kickoff.

Sporting CP played at a high intensity and found their second goal soon afterwards. On the right side of the attack, Vietto crossed in a ball that would be met by Nuno Santos, who finished off to take the score to 0-2 on 11 minutes.

The game would drop in pace after the first 20 minutes were out, and Sporting CP gave more freedom to the opposition -who nevertheless still had difficulty troubling goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

In the second half there was more of a push from Portimonense SC to turn the score around, and in response Rúben Amorim brought on Daniel Bragança in place of Nuno Santos. He would then give debuts to Gonçalo Inácio and Tabata - in addition to Antunes and Gonzalo Plata.

The decision almost had an effect on the advantage: In the 80th minute, Plata sent in a free kick from the left that Sebastian Coates headed in, but the goal would be disallowed due to a foul by the centre back.

Both Gonçalves and Tabata had chances before the whistle, but there was no change in the scoreline and Sporting CP claimed their second win of 2020/2021 in league action.

The coach was pleased with his side's game against Portimonense SC

After the 0-2 triumph against Portimonense SC, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim praised the performance from his players that led to them continuing a perfect start to the league season.

“We started well. It didn't last that long, but I think that has to do with the youth of the team. We came into this one off a difficult game in the Europa League, but we played well. We controlled the game well, were solid and our start was very good. We could have scored more goals in that period of play. In those 30 minutes we could have killed the game off, but then we stuck together and stayed like that until the end,” he said of the Sunday night display.

“I know the stage at which the players are and the confidence they have, in addition to the daring that is inherent to their age. I think that today's game from Sporting CP shows everything the team are about: solid and daring, but with some inexperience at certain times when it comes to taking hold of the game. It's normal and we will grow over time," added Amorim, who also praised Gonçalo Inácio and Tabata for their debuts, and explained why he brought on Daniel Bragança for Nuno Santos at halftime.

“We didn't have any big outlets for the attack, but what we needed was to have more of the ball, and Daniel Bragança gives us that. We had speed on the wings, but I wanted an extra man up front and to play as a third midfielder in both defence and attack. You have to remember that before this season Daniel had only played the Second Division, and it takes time. He has adapted well and worked very hard," the coach concluded.

The coach looks ahead to Sporting CP's second league game

Sporting CP travel south this Sunday for a 9pm kickoff against Portimonense SC, as they play their second game of the season in the Liga NOS.

Before the game at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão, coach Rúben Amorim addressed the midweek elimination from the Europa League at the hands of LASK, and previewed his first game in the dugout this campaign.

“The message I gave to my players was that they shouldn't read the newspapers, and to watch the game without sound to try to understand what we did well and what we didn't. We have taken victories from games in which we played much worse than that day, and the story of the game is what it is: one team wanted to play, another were relying on second balls," he told the media in his press conference.

"I told my players that they gave everything they had. We know it was a harsh result, but I can't ask for anything more from them; they gave everything that they have and we have to move on.".

As for the weekend fixture, Amorim had high praise for Portimonense SC.

“They are a team that have been growing since last season. It will be a tough game, but they are playing against Sporting CP and, therefore, do not have much pressure on them. We played a preseason game against them and we took something away from that match, but this one will be completely different. We have to be ourselves and we have to be very intense in order to win against Portimonense CP.

The coach also revealed that Marcus Wendel will not be available for the game, having missed training during the week with an injury, and promised that a strong lineup will be in place.

“It seems to me that there are many people who have already given up on this team, but for me, as a coach, and for the players who are here, this is only just beginning. We're going to fight, with our ideas and our path. The sky could fall and I would not change the way I am. We will be competitive," he promised.

Ten-man Sporting CP lose to LASK in the Europa League playoffs

Sporting Clube de Portugal went out of the UEFA Europa League this Thursday with a 1-4 loss to LASK in the playoffs. The team's involvement in European competition came to an end just before the Group Stage.

With Nuno Santos in the starting eleven for the first time, replacing Jovane Cabral in the one change from the side that defeated Paços de Ferreira the previous weekend, Sporting CP debuted their third kit for the crucial encounter at the Estadio José Alvalade. The first chance for them came in the 11th minute, when Tiago Tomás miscontrolled the ball in an excellent position.

However, the first goal was scored by LASK just past the first quarter-hour. Off a corner, Trauner headed into the net and put the Austrians ahead.

Sporting CP's response came in the 27th minute with a good chance: A quality move through Wendel and Tiago Tomás set up Luciano Vietto inside the opposition area, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Schlager.

Twelve minutes later it was Nuno Santos who would take on the LASK goalkeeper, but his attempt to assist a teammate was unsuccessful.

Sporting CP finally got the equaliser on 42 minutes, thanks to 18 year old striker Tiago Tomas. He was set up by Nuno Santos and powered a header past Schlager to put his team back on terms. Tomas had previously scored against Aberdeen in the Third Qualifying Round.

The visitors came back stronger after the break and made it 1-2 through Marko Raguž on 58 minutes. Shortly thereafter, Sebastián Coates was shown a straight red card, with Peter Michorl scoring from the resulting free kick.

Andreas Gruber rounded off the scoring for LASK against ten-man Sporting CP, and there was no way back for Rúben Amorim's side. They now turn their focus to Sunday, and a visit to Portimonense SC in Liga NOS.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Matheus Nunes (Andraž Šporar, 71'), Wendel, Tiago Tomás, Nuno Santos (Antunes, 78') and Luciano Vietto (Pedro Gonçalves, 67').