“I want to stay here, I’m happy here.” This is how Ruben Amorim reacted to Chelsea having his name on a list of five possible coaches to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked this week. The Guardian newspaper even said that those in charge of the London club intend to interview the Sporting coach, but the answer given yesterday at the press conference ahead of Wednesday night’s game (20.15, SportTV) with Gil Vicente should be the alleged British interest.
“I’ve seen many coaches move to other championships and not be happy. I appreciate what I have and I enjoy being at Sporting. If I have to leave here it’s because I was pushed by white scarves or for a different reason, but I “I’m not going to leave the door ajar because I think Sporting deserves a different respect. If you want to go, I’ll tell the president and Hugo Viana and then I’ll go,” emphasized Rúben Amorim, guaranteeing that the club that wants him “will have to pay the clause”.
With that case resolved, the leonine coach spoke the interview with president Frederico Varandas, the day before, in which he threw some barbs at Benfica regarding the lawsuits in which the Luz club is involved. Amorim said he did not want to dwell too much on these statements, but left one certainty: “Everyone – whether from Benfica, Sporting, FC Porto – wants justice, fair play. As a coach, when you are in a club with problems, you would like justice to be done. That is the great goal of all of us.”
Another topic raised by President Frederico Varandas was the need for Sporting to qualify for next year’s Champions League so that it does not have the need to sell players. “It’s not time to talk about it, we are in battle. The planning is done with and without the champions. It is important for us to keep the players, more than to buy them,” said Rúben Amorim, who admits to reach one of the places of entry into UEFA’s millionaire league “it would be useful for FC Porto to lose points” in Friday’s derby against Benfica, but he recalled that his team’s focus must be on ” winning the matches” ahead, given that “it is still necessary to overtake Sp. Braga”, so “losing points is forbidden”.
Tonight’s game in Barcelos, behind schedule for the 25th round of the I Liga, is the first obstacle in this last part of the season. “We are at a good time, playing better and more consistent” against “Gil Vicente who has good dynamics”. In this sense, he left a warning: “We have examples where we came from good series and ended up going through difficulties that cost us the season. We are prepared.” Against the gilistas, Rúben Amorim will already be able to count on Gonçalo Inácio, but he has the drop of Paulinho who has a problem with his foot and does not know when he will be recovered. Bellerín is also out, but “should be an option” in the next game against Casa Pia.
Sporting is starting a cycle of decisive matches, including the Europa League match against Juventus. “It is an important moment, which will decide many things and the management will be done day by day,” said the coach, who guaranteed that “the priority is the championship”, although the goal is also “to win in the Europa League. Competition”. “We have already proven that we can beat any team,” he concluded.
Source: DN
