Manager Ruben Amorim explained this Saturday that the day off given to the Sporting team during the “long week” of preparation for the meeting with Benfica from Football League I is a normal procedure at the club.
Faced with criticism from fans at a press conference in Alcochet regarding the organization of players’ rest ahead of the derby, the coach recalled that at the moment the team is experiencing “everything can be used as a problem”, but stressed who does not make decisions “according to what people think” .
“Since we’ve been here for such a long week, we’re taking a break. Because we train very hard one day, very hard the next … The next, we still have two days to prepare the team tactically, that’s what we always did, ”the lion coach justified.
Without stopping, Amorim emphasized that the planning is done with the idea of ”helping players” who want to convey the idea that “in first, second, third or fourth place” they always do “the same thing.”
“There is an explanation. [Depois de] two days of heavy workload, we must rest, even for the heads of the players. We have two days to prepare a lot of the tactical aspect, two days is enough to win the game,” he stressed.
The coach was later questioned again and ensured that he could “take charge” of managing the workload and that the players could do whatever they wanted on rest days.
“They have a day off, they do what they want. When they came to work, we were well prepared for the game. I know this responsibility, otherwise everyone will talk. We’ve done it again and we’re ready to play,” the technician concluded.
On Sunday, Sporting CP will host Benfica in the match of the 33rd and penultimate round of the First Football League, which will start at 20:30 at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, with the referee João Pinheiro (Braga).
The Rubén Amorim-led team remains in fourth place in the league and could enter the field with no chance of third, qualifying for the third qualifying round of the Champions League if Sporting Braga win away this Saturday. to Boavista.
Benfica top the table with four points more than Porto and could enter the field already as national champions if the Dragons lose this Saturday away in Famalicana, or celebrate the title if will succeed in Alvalada, at least the same result as the Blue and Whites.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.