The coach runs the rule over the game against Vitória SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal are back at home this Saturday to play sixth-placed Vitória SC in Liga NOS action. In his press conference ahead of the match, head coach Rúben Amorim spoke about the opposition, absentees in his side and international callups as a reward for excellent performances.

"Vitória SC are a very good team. They are not in good form, but there are no better games than these, against the big sides, to change that. Our focus has been on the quality that Vitória SC have in their squad," he told journalists.

"They have absences in defence [center backs Abdul Mumin and Easah Suliman], but up front they have players amongst the best in Portugal, who can decide a game. Our objective this week has mainly been to continue to improve our team."

Sporting CP will have absences of their own, with the recent positive COVID-19 tests for Matheus Nunes and Vitorino Antunes meaning they join Sebastián Coates (suspended for five yellow cards) and João Pereira (shown a red card when on the bench against Tondela) on the sidelines.

"It is always bad to have cases of COVID-19; from the beginning we have done everything to avoid them, but there are things that we can't control. When a positive test comes up, we have to be even more rigorous, if possible, and keep testing and protecting the players. On Saturday we will use the players who are available, and we have many of them," added Amorim, who may call on some young talents.

"We have a lot of young players as well, and these situations give us the opportunity to bring them in to train and work with us."

One player who is back available is forward Paulinho, guaranteed the Sporting CP coach: "He is another option, and therefore that is good news for our team. We can play in different ways and Paulinho can offer us other things in terms of the creation of opportunities, more aerial play and more in the area, so he is someone else that can help, making the team stronger."

Sporting CP continue to lead Liga NOS with 61 points, ten more than their nearest rivals, and remain undefeated in the competition. However, Amorim still sees room for improvement.

"The other teams are also well prepared and we have to evolve as a team. We have more time together now, and the squad have already acquired everything we gave them in the first phase, so now we are trying to introduce other nuances. The important thing is to win and to improve the way we play -and our fluidity," he pointed out.

Finally, the coach expressed his satisfaction with the debut of Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha in a Portuguese national team squad list, and also for the first callup for Pedro Porro for Spain.

"It is due to their merits and that of their teammates. They have worked and evolved a lot. Nuno Mendes played some games for the under-23s when in the under-19s side, and now after a year he is a full international. I think [João] Palhinha's callup is because he has different characteristics to all the players in that position for Portugal.

"As for Porro, we gave him confidence and our system helps him, as he is better defensively and has more intensity. Now he is going into a completely different world with the Spain team. He has to take advantage of the moment, but tomorrow there is still a game to be played."

The squad's preparations continue for Matchday 24

The Academia Sporting was a hub of activity on Thursday, as the Sporting CP first team trained ahead of their game against Vitória SC.  

Absent from the session, the penultimate before the Liga NOS Matchday 24 encounter, was winger Nuno Santos, due to tendinopathy in his left thigh.

A 10am session awaits the squad on Friday, with coach Rúben Amorim giving his pre-match press conference at the Artur Agostinho Auditorium of the Estádio José Alvalade at 6:30pm.

The match against Vitória SC kicks off on Saturday at 8:30pm local time. In the reverse fixture, held back in November 2020, Sporting CP ran out 0-4 winners thanks to goals from Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves (x2) and Jovane Cabral.

The trio will represent Portugal and Spain, respectively, for the first time

João Palhinha, Nuno Mendes and Pedro Porro have been called up by their respective countries for the upcoming international fixtures, with all three being included in senior squads for the first time.

Nuno Mendes is the youngest player named in the Portugal squad, at just 18 years of age. He has previously represented the country at under-21s level in qualifying matches for Euro 2021. Palhinha has extensive experience in the Portuguese setup at youth level, but last featured for the under-20s in 2015. Both players have received their opportunity as a result of outstanding performances for Sporting CP this season.

Portugal will begin qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with matches on March 24th against Azerbaijan and March 27th against Serbia, followed by a meeting with Luxembourg.

Pedro Porro received recognition for his excellent season with his first involvement in the senior national team for Spain. Coach Luis Enrique will run the rule over the right back in Spain's games against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo in World Cup 2022 qualifiers.

Porro has won various individual awards for his showings in Liga NOS this season, since joining Sporting CP last summer. He has prior experience with Spain at under-21s level.

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.

The Sporting CP coach is wary of the Matchday 23 opponents

On the eve of Saturday's Liga NOS match against CD Tondela, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim underlined the home performances of the opposition, describing them as "a different side when they play at home."

“They have five victories in a row and feel very comfortable at their home ground. They are the sixth best team in the league in this respect. They have different performance -not in the way they play, but in intensity- and even the quality of their play is different," warned Amorim.

"We have to focus on what we have been doing, because we have a lot to improve. CD Tondela could use the same formation as us, and their coach has already said that he could employ a lower block.”

The Sporting CP coach added that “knowing that we have had some difficulties in the final third, that is exactly what we have worked on during the week. We are prepared, we know the quality of the three up top for CD Tondela -even after João Pedro's arrival- and we have to be very careful with their transitions. Nevertheless, the focus is on maintaining defensive quality and improving in attack. I think we are going to have a better game in that aspect."

He revealed that Paulinho "will be back soon, but for this game he is not yet fit," and reacted to the news of a possible return of fans to stadiums in the second half of April or first week of May.

“This team have showed a way of playing with which the fans identify. I would like to have the fans back with us already. We will still need them a lot, because there is still a long way to go this season, many points will still be lost and they will be a decisive factor. Contrary to what people think, Sporting CP fans will still help this team a lot,” he concluded.

The coach's analysis of the 2-1 win against CD Santa Clara

Following the final whistle in Friday's 2-1 victory over CD Santa Clara, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim analysed the game in his post-match press conference.

"It was a very tough game. CD Santa Clara did very well, with changes in their positions and playing with five defenders. We had some difficulty with losing a lot of balls without pressure from the opponent in the second half, as we were very rushed. We often had the three centre backs in space and put the ball upfield. The main issue was the passivity of the team and the lack of energy, which is something very important for us. In the final minutes, even on the bench, everyone had a breakthrough moment when we realised we could drop points. We turned it up a gear and ended up scoring", the coach said.

"We know that we have to always be very intense and strong, at all times. The opposition are always at the limit, want to win and want to be the first team to beat Sporting CP. That is part of being a big club. We always have to be at the top of our game, in all aspects. Today we didn’t do that".

Amorim admitted that the showing against CD Santa Clara was one of the least intense and energetic of the season so far, adding that "it was, perhaps, our worst performance, because even with LASK, when we lost 1-4 at home, there was energy and intensity. Today there was at least a lot of belief from the players".

Regarding his choice of Matheus Nunes on the right wing over João Pereira, Amorim explained what he had intended.

"João has played for a few games and I wanted a more attacking and faster player in that position. Matheus has had more training time with us, and we also have to take advantage of Matheus' form. I trust João and when he should play, he will".

"Nunes has a much higher ceiling than I did as a player. He is not going to have a coach who will always change his position. Before this game, I told him that he will have a great career, be a great player and earn a lot of money in his position, but when the team needs it, even the goalkeeper has to play where we say", he concluded.

An injury time winner from Coates gives the league leaders a 2-1 triumph

Sporting Clube de Portugal bested CD Santa Clara 2-1 in a Friday night fixture at the Estádio José Alvalade, as Sebastian Coates struck a late winner in the Liga NOS Matchday 22 contest.

The league leaders were up against the side in seventh place, and made two changes to the starting lineup from the game against FC Porto. Pedro Porro was back available, and came straight into the first XI, and Nuno Santos was rotated in. The pair replaced Matheus Nunes and Bruno Tabata, respectively.

CD Santa Clara began intensely, with the intention of springing an early surprise. They provided some dangerous moves and several corners, but the play eventually settled down and Sporting CP established dominance.

On 22 minutes, Pedro Gonçalves opened the scoring off a tremendous move. João Palhinha recovered the ball, playing it to João Mário -who in turn laid it off to Bruno Tabata. The Brazilian fooled the entire CD Santa Clara defence, picking out Gonçalves. The league's top marksman struck a shot inside the far post to beat goalkeeper Marco Pereira, scoring his 15th goal of the season.

From there, Sporting CP maintained control through to the end of the first half, holding a 1-0 lead.

The momentum remained the same in the second half, albeit with few chances on goal after another early rally from CD Santa Clara. Coach Rúben Amorim took the opportunity to reshuffle the team, replacing Nuno Mendes with Matheus Reis in the 57th minute. He would later bring in Tiago Tomás and Bruno Tabata for Daniel Bragança and Nuno Santos, respectively.

The substitutions were effective and, just after coming on, Santos caused danger with a cross-shot from the left that forced Marco Pereira to parry out for a corner kick.

The response from CD Santa Clara came shortly afterwards, when Rui Costa, from distance, shot over the crossbar. It would be he who ended up scoring CD Santa Clara's goal, in the 84th minute, taking advantage of a mistake from Zouhair Feddal and equalising.

Jovane Cabral, on as a sub, led the Sporting CP charge to regain their lead: Matheus Reis crossed from the left, it was headed by Sebastián Coates and Cabral, in a good position, nearly scored.

Another Coates effort, from a corner on 89 minutes, found its way wide of the post, as time began to run out. The team's unshakeable belief has been demonstrated several times this season, and it came through for them again: In the third minute of stoppage time, Nuno Santos crossed for João Mário. The midfielder, inside the area, placed the ball towards Coates, and the captain headed into the net for the winning goal. The entire squad celebrated the late strike, which provided another massive three points for the Liga NOS leaders.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [GR], Zouhair Feddal (Jovane Cabral, 86 '), Matheus Nunes, João Palhinha, João Mário, Nuno Mendes (Matheus Reis, 57'), Bruno Tabata ( Nuno Santos, 70'), Pedro Gonçalves and Tiago Tomás (Daniel Bragança, 70'). Unused substitutes: Luís Maximiano [GR], Luís Neto, João Pereira, Vitorino Antunes and Eduardo Quaresma.

"It makes me very proud to be connected to a club like Sporting CP"

Sporting Clube de Portugal have reached an agreement with Rúben Amorim for the extension of the first team coach's contract through to 2024. The announcement was made on Thursday, almost a year after he joined the club, and Amorim and president Frederico Varandas were present at the Estádio José Alvalade to talk about the new deal.

"As president of Sporting CP, I am very happy. I think it is a very happy day for Sporting CP. The things that led us to gather here a year ago to sign Rúben Amorim and his staff to his initial contract are exactly the same reasons for which we double down on our confidence in them," said Varandas.

"Rúben Amorim is a brilliant, loyal coach, and a man of principles. It is extremely important to have a coach who can set an example like he does. I am convinced that he is the right man to make this club grow and be increasingly competitive. From the beginning there has been perfect harmony between the president, sporting director Hugo Viana and Rúben Amorim."

"I can only be extremely proud of my coach, my coaching staff and my players for the work done so far, but it still doesn't change anything," continued the president.

"I tried to be as clear as possible a few weeks ago, after the extremely difficult victory in Barcelos. We will certainly have more victories like that one, and we will have games in which we will not be able to win. We are 13 games from the end of the season and ten points from a place that guarantees us direct access to the UEFA Champions League -and that is extremely positive," he said, calming any premature proclamations of the title being a foregone conclusion.

"Whoever is talking about celebrations, ceremonies and titles already having been won, genuinely doesn’t want Sporting CP to win. We know what is needed, we know the difficulty of the league and the value and strength of our rivals, and we know the path we have to follow."

Rúben Amorim himself then spoke, starting by commenting on what has changed since his initial presentation in March of 2020.

"These are obviously different times. The moment the club are in has changed. But the ambition is the same. We have the same desire to win and the same challenges. Now, we are more certain of ourselves and we know the way we have to go," he stated.

"We have a lot to do, and that is why I have signed on for more years here. I feel at home here, and I have always said that. When we failed in our objective for last season, I said at the end of the game that I had made the right choice. I said the same thing when we won our first trophy together, and it's the truth. A lot has changed, but there is still everything to do. I have the same ambition."

"I would like to say a few words about the coaching staff and thank them for all their work, as well as the players, who have provided this opportunity for us to remain connected to a club like Sporting CP. We have a lot to win and a lot to do. Our path involves trophies, but also something much bigger. I am very happy, I feel at home and it makes me very proud to be connected to a club like Sporting CP."

For the coach, there have been changes along with the demanding nature of his role.

"Now I am more relaxed, but I feel more under pressure now. I'm also more confident and experienced. The first year has been a year of hard work and sacrifice for everyone, and a strange year for all of Portuguese society. The goal is to improve. We have to improve our way of playing, our Academy and all areas of Sporting CP.  I hope to help make this club even greater."

Finally, Amorim talked about the project, refusing to take full credit for the work done at the club.

"This started long before the coach arrived. I knew the idea of Sporting CP and the challenge was very attractive and difficult. It is a challenge that is just right for me: A commitment to youth, a difficult challenge and a very large club."

Preparations continue for the next league game

Liga NOS action continues this week for Sporting Clube de Portugal, who kick off the matchday with their Friday night fixture at the Estádio José Alvalade (8:45pm local time).

The team have been training this week following their 0-0 draw with FC Porto, and coach Rúben Amorim has had almost the entire squad available to him -with the exception of striker Paulinho, who is still undergoing treatment.

The Sporting CP coach will give a pre-match press conference on Thursday evening to preview the game.