Coach Rúben Amorim pointed out this Friday as the objective of the visit to Tondela, in the League Cup, to put the Sporting footballers “at the same level” for a “decisive” month of January, also due to forced absences.
“The big concern is to form a very competitive team, try new things and prepare the players for what is to come. There are players who have played every game and will play again, we want to make the most of every minute. The main thing is to win the match, but what we are going to do is try to get all the players at the same level, so that next month is decisive and that they are neither underloaded nor overloaded,” he stated.
In a press conference prior to the match on the third and final day of Group C of the League Cup, Rúben Amorim addressed the absences of central defender Diomande, winger Geny Catamo and midfielder Morita, who will be in their respective teams for a month and a half, in addition to the injuries to the center backs San Juste and Coates and the right back Fresneda.
“There are three important players for us and, in a month and a half, everything can be decided. It will be a complicated month and that is the biggest concern we have. We will find solutions. I am more concerned about preparing the team.” and take advantage of every minute, to safeguard this month of January, so that these players can return later,” he considered.
Given the unavailability of three center backs and the interest of several European teams in Gonçalo Inácio, Rúben Amorim admitted that this position could receive changes when the transfer market reopens, which will open in January.
“Obviously, this position is a big concern. We have a plan for the present, but also for the future. We have an idea of who might leave at the end of the season, we have to put everything together and then go.” to the market. It is one of the positions in which there may be some changes,” he stressed, but Inácio and Gyökeres “only leave because of the clause.”
Regarding the duel that ends the group stage of the League Cup, the León coach expressed Sporting’s obligation to guarantee its presence in the the last fouralthough without “relaxing”, taking into account the possible results for this and the necessary improvements.
“I value all the trophies. Last year we didn’t win any and that is a mark of the big clubs. It is an opportunity, which we value a lot. We are very fond of it, because it was the first competition we won and lately we have been playing against great rivals, “That makes things more special. It’s a goal and we want to win,” he highlighted.
Sporting occupies the lead in Group C, with three points, the same as Farense, which can no longer reach the classification the last four. Tondela is last, without points, and needs to defeat the ‘lions’ by two or more goals to access the final phase of the tournament.
The match between first division Sporting and ‘secondary’ Tondela, on the third and final day of the group, will take place on Saturday, at 6 p.m., at the João Cardoso Stadium, in Tondela, under the arbitration of David Rafael Silva , from the Porto Football Association.
Source: TSF
