Sporting manager Ruben Amorim assured this Wednesday that the team is excited and ready to beat Arsenal on Thursday in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League.
Amorim, who spoke at a press conference dedicated to the meeting with the Londoners, said that he knows the opponent well, stressing that even if players are changed in the first team, the dynamics will remain the same.
“We know the style of Arsenal well. We know the spirit of the team. Our team has improved since the beginning of the season. We are in a good moment. We are ready for the best Arsenal. Concentrated from the first to the last minute,” he said.
Rubén Amorim, unwilling to lift the veil over European goals, admitted that by beating the Gunners, Sporting would be more motivated for the rest of the season.
“Beating a team like Arsenal shows us that anything is possible. The next few games we would approach differently. Now we have to start well against Arsenal and want to win. I don’t know if now is the best time to face Arsenal. but it’s a good point. We have a plan, we want to win, we are excited and ready,” guaranteed.
Due to the absence of the Ugarte defensive midfielder Ugarte in the center of the field, a vacancy opens up, and Ruben Amorim does not guarantee the presence of the Argentinean Mateo Tanlongo in the starting lineup, thereby implying that the duet of Pedro Gonçalves and Morita, who played in the last meeting before Estoril Praia, this could happen again.
“Protection is subjective. Tnalongo is not a very strong physical player. Defense is the ability to run meters at high intensity, the ability to anticipate opponents. We reviewed everything and selected the top eleven. It could have been an option or an option from the bank, or from the very beginning,” he said.
In front of Ruben Amorim, defender Jeremiah St. Just made statements to the press and said that the team is ready to meet with the leader of the English championship.
“I feel like we are ready. We have a plan. I’m sure it will be a great game. Arsenal are a team that wants to win. expect from them,” said the Dutch centre-back.
When asked about the difference in strength and arguments between the two St. Just is not afraid.
“I don’t think this is the worst opponent in the Europa League. This is a great game. Arsenal are leaders in the English league, which is why both the players and the technical team at Sporting want to participate in this kind of match. games,” he concluded.
After winning the playoffs against the Danes from Midtjylland (1:1 in Alvalade and 4:0 in Herning), Sporting CP will host Arsenal on Thursday at 17:45 in the first leg of the 1/8 finals of the Europa League. who will arbitrate the German Tobias Stieler.