Alvalade futsal coach named in Futsal Planet's shortlist

The website Futsal Planet has announced its list for the 2016 Best Club Coach of the World. Sporting CP coach Nuno Dias features in the list, after inspiring his team to every single national title available.

Also in the running for the award are Jesús Velasco Tejada (Inter Movistar), Ricardo Sobral Cacau (Futsal Kairat) and Paulo Ricardo Figueroa (Gazprom-Ugra).

Nuno Dias left almost speechless by Sunday's UEFA Futsal Cup emotion

"An amazing match, in every way." Those were the words of an ecstatic Nuno Dias on Sunday, after watching his side overcome the powerful FC Dynamo in the UEFA Futsal Cup and secure a place in the competition's Final Four.

Resisting efforts to pull him away to party with his players, the Alvalade futsal coach took moment to reflect: "This match took a lot out of us physically and emotionally. The key was the character of my players, the way they were able to adapt at half-time to do better. Today I want to celebrate, this is an amazing achievement. We are the only non-seeded team to get into the Final Four and we even came out on top against the Russian champions. I honestly cannot find the words to explain how I feel about our fans and the way they supported us when everything felt lost."

Nuno Dias on Sporting CP's 16-1 win against Târgu Mures

Nuno Dias was understandably happy with his side's dismantling of Târgu Mures this Friday night, tallying an amazing sixteen goals.

"All we were focusing on was winning. We had the benefit of knowing that we needed 12 goals and the lads were motivated to go out there and do it. I just tried to keep everyone relaxed and to keep the pace up. I knew if we did that then the result would follow", opened the Alvalade futsal coach, adding: "We focused more on how we were playing than the result. The way we were pressing and moving the ball around was always going to bring results in the second-half. There is no way our opponent could have kept up with us."

Nuno Dias happy with his side's Elite Round showing

"Of course I am happy. Our objective was to open with a win", said Nuno Dias after watching his side beat Eto Gyor on UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round group D matchday 1.

The Alvalade futsal coach went on to reflect further on the match and what the rest of the tournament is likely to hold: "I said we would be playing against a really strong team who would give us a hard time. It was a good match for both teams and the win was down to us sticking together during the harder moments. Congratulations to Gyor, they are a quality side. Tomorrow Targus might be a big dismissive in relation to the final result, which will open the game up and give us more opportunities. Let's wait and see."

Coach Nuno Dias on the coming UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round

Nuno Dias was in the UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round press room this Wednesday, along with FC Dynamo's Temur Alekberov, Eto Gyor's Marcos Lopez. and Targu Mures's Lucian Nicusan.

The Sporting CP got straight to the point, affirming the importance of starting the competition with a win: "The first game is always really important in this kind of competition and we want to start well. It will be a hard game, because only the best teams are involved at this stage of the competition. Gyor are used to winning and they have a very good Spanish coach as well as some good quality players. Hopefully the home factor will be decisive for us, like it was in Odivelas two years ago. I am really counting on the fans and the match against Inter Movistar two years ago is an example of the motivation they can give us."

Meanwhile the FC Dynamo coach Temur Alekberov proved keen to recognise the quality of the hosts: "Sporting CP have shown in recent years that they can make the most of the home factor. We know the club well, we know coach Nuno Dias and his players. Actually I have already trained Deo. They are a really strong team."

Eto Gyor boss Marco Lopez followed in the same light: "We know Sporting CP well. They are a really strong squad with good players. We are focused on our first match."

Sporting's futsal department on the coming UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round

The Odivelas Multiuse Arena will once again host the UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round later this month, but despite what is now quite a tradition of Sporting CP organising the event, director Miguel Albuquerque was still caught by surprise: "the Final Four that we organised in the Meo Arena was considered as the best event ever by UEFA and that only makes us even more determined to carry on doing this kind of thing. I would like to see us put a bid in every time and UEFA trusts us because we are serious. Of course we want to win the competition, but we also want to put on a show."

Coach Nuno Dias also reflected this week on the coming challenge, highlighting the role of the fans: "The fans are really important and they know it. They know how important their support is for us and we hope to see that translate into success. We will be ready and the fans will get behind us."

Coach João Matos also took a moment to speak with the press about the competition, analysing Sporting CP0s opposition: "We really want to get into the Final Four and win it, but we hae to take it one step at a time. We will have some hard games in Odivelas against some good teams, but we are a strong side as well."

Nuno Dias reflects on the UEFA Futsal Cup Main Round

Nuno Dias inspired Sporting to 16 goals scored and just 2 conceded in the UEFA Futsal Cup Main Round over the course of last week.

“First we look to secure results and then to play well, especially against tough teams. We pulled off both things and we played really well. We finished in first and we won against the Italian runner-up on their turf. We are satisfied", said the Alvalade futsal coach, continuing: "We have strengthened our squad this year and we want to get as far as we can in this competition. Where the next round will be played doesn't depend on us and there are some really strong sides coming into the competition now. We will wat and see what comes from the draw."

Nuno Dias full of praise for his players after securing a place in the UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round

Another UEFA Cup Main Round encounter and another heavy defeat inflicted by Sporting, this time against Halle-Gooik.

"It was a great game, both in defence and when we had the ball. We showed rhythm and we created chances against a really good side", said Nuno Dias at the final whistle, continuing with an analysis of the encounter: "They really pushed us. Defending for almost 40 minutes against 5 is really tough. Not having possession means you have to focus a lot and any mistake can let your opponent in for a goal. The lads were great tonight."

As for where he setting his sights, Nuno Dias didn't pull his punches: "Getting into the Elite Round isn't enough for us. We came here to play three matches and preferably to win all three. We want another good result and a good performance."

Nuno Dias happy with his side's comfortable UEFA Futsal Cup opening win

"We were able to control their strong points. The lads did what I asked them to do and we dominated", said Nuno Dias after Sporting's 7-1 win against Centar Sarajevo this Wednesday, going on to comment on tomorrow's encounter with Halle-Gooik: "It will be harder, I have no doubt about it. Halle-Gooik have some quality players, but fortunately for us we have a lot of options in the squad and we can manage any tired legs."

Nuno Dias looks ahead to the UEFA Futsal Cup Main Round

The countdown to the UEFA Futsal Cup Main Round has begun, with Sporting set to take on Centar Sarajevo at 17h00 on Wednesday in Group 5.

The Alvalade coach Nuno Dias sat down with the press on Tuesday afternoon, to share his thoughts on the coming encounters: "In all of the other groups every team in our group would qualify. We don't know a lot about the teams we will face and we won't have a lot of time to adapt, because there isn't even a training session before the second match", said the Sporting futsal coach.