Sporting’s football coach, Rúben Amorim, confirmed this Thursday that winter reinforcement Rafael Pontelo was called up to receive Estoril Praia, in a match in which the lions want to maintain their leadership in the I Liga.
The coach, who spoke on Friday at a press conference prior to the matchday 16 match, did not want to reveal whether the defender hired by Leixões will be a starter or not, “so as not to give anything away” to the opposing coach. Vasco Seabra, stressing that the team is aware of the quality of the Estorilistas, who have already beaten FC Porto twice this season, the first for the championship (1-0), at the Estádio do Dragão, and then for the Copa de the League (3-1), in Amoreira.
“I don’t think it was necessary [alertar a equipa], but we focus a lot on that. We talk to the players about the results they [o Estoril] has been. They have scored four goals in several games, they have not conceded goals, something we have had difficulties with. It is a team that has not lost in four games. It is not only because of their quality of play, their results and their confidence, but, being a young team, I do not think they will arrive at Alvalade intimidated. You will feel at ease,” he began by saying.
Amorim recalled that several Estorilistas players “grew up in big clubs” and, as the team does not have the pressure of escaping to the last places, “they breathe in a different way.”
“They have a coach [Vasco Seabra] who has already shown, in Portugal, that he can do a great job and that he can beat great teams. Our team is warned, they know that Estoril has a player like Guitane, perhaps one of the most disruptive at the moment, they have very talented guys in the midfield, they have the player with the most assists on the right wing. [Rodrigo Gomes] in a system similar to ours. All this information was given, so we will be prepared for the game,” he highlighted.
Despite the absences of the injured Coates, St. Juste and Fresneda, as well as the Ivorian Diamonde and the Japanese Morita, who play for their respective teams, the coach said he believed in winning the three points.
“I’m not worried about the absences. We are prepared to win the game. It will be a difficult game, against an uninhibited team. We will present a strong team,” he assured.
Asked if he would like to have Rafik Guitane in the Sporting squad, Rúben Amorim made it clear that, at least in the short term, he is not in Leo’s consideration.
“Rafik Guitane is a player that any football-loving coach would want. We are not interested because we have players with similar characteristics for the same position,” he said.
Sporting, leader of the I Liga, with 37 points, receives on Friday, at 6:45 p.m., Estoril Praia, ninth classified, with 17, in the match that opens the 16th day and which will be refereed by Cláudio Pereira, of the Football Association. Aveiro football.
Source: TSF
