Ruben Amorim is confident in Sporting’s double

Coach Ruben Amorim demonstrated this Saturday Sporting’s confidence in achieving the double that has eluded the club for 22 years in the Portuguese Cup final against a “great team” from Porto.

“The double is very important for Sporting, we haven’t achieved this for 22 years. This team should make this season special. Records are important, but they are worth little. to meet a great team whose coach has won more than anyone in Portugal. The atmosphere this week was very different from the previous two, and I am very confident that we will make history and continue on our way,” said the footballer. Leonina coach at a press conference.

In the press room of the mythical King’s Test final at the Estadio Nacional in Oeiras, Ruben Amorim suggested that “there is another responsibility” to winning the Portuguese Cup as a coach, which is what he aims to achieve. for the first time since his only achievement as a player, in the 2013/14 season when he represented Benfica.

“It could be more special because my role is much bigger and we are one game away from making it a double.” We have not yet done the paradigm that we want to change in Portugal, we have already started and it would be good. A step that confirms what we have done in the championship. It will be a very difficult game, but if everything goes well, it will be a special day for all of us,” emphasized the coach, who has been with Sporting for four years and a half seasons.

Ruben Amorim confirmed the absence of Matheus Reis due to injury and hopes that Porto captain Pepe will be an option for Sergio Conceiço’s starting XI, even predicting the opposition’s “eleven” by betting on Diogo Costa, Joao Mario. , Pepe, Otavio, Wendell, Alan Varela, Nico Gonzalez, Francisco Conceicao, Galeno, Pepe and Evanilson in the starting lineup.

“I expect Porto to be strong because ‘Mr’ Sergio Conceição is always very smart in such moments. We have had a long week and we are ready for a difficult match and a better Porto. What happened in the championship doesn’t matter anymore. . If the team can execute their game, we will be closer to victory,” he said.

Sérgio Conceição is “the hardest coach to beat”, he also believes, emphasizing that “a coach develops a lot by playing against him” and that the pressure is the same on both sides, despite Sporting becoming champions and Porto trying to save the season.

“We won the championship, but we have to feel the same pressure as a team that hasn’t won anything. We have to feel that pressure, I don’t want the players to feel relaxed because they are champions. I think both teams will be champions.” are under pressure,” he said.

Sporting and Porto will meet in the Portuguese Cup final on Sunday at the National Stadium in Oeiras at 17:15, in a match that will be refereed by Fabio Verissima of the Leiria Football Association.