Courtesy: 4 Traders


SPORTING: on the UEFA trail

With Sporting having a brilliant season so far in Europe, João Matos and André Santos have both been busy defending the Sporting colours in foreign lands. The Sporting Journal caught up with the two yesterday to gauge their thoughts on the Club's season so far.


André Santos: "Sporting as a whole is more important"

André Santos, you can often be found supporting Sporting's futsal team. Would you say that futsal is your second sport?
I really like futsal. The idea of time is completely different and sometimes 10 seconds can last an eternity. The action literally goes from one end to the other and it is so different to football. I also enjoy the fact that the fans and players are right on top of each other. I like seeing the players actually talking with the fans when they are playing down the wings. Basically it is a fantastic ambience to play in.


Do you have any favourite players?
I don't want to draw comparisons between players, because they are all good to be honest. But I really like the attitude of João Benedito. I have known him for years and he has been with the club for a long time, so it is normal that a friendship exists between us. I also like João Matos, who is a true Lion. He even roars on the pitch (laughs).


Do you think that the relationship between all of the club's sports is important?
Without a doubt. It is really important that all of the club's sports get on well, because we are all working with the same aim. It isn't football, futsal, handball or athletics that is most important, but Sporting as a whole and we have to work together as a family.


Is there anything that you would like to say to Sporting's futsal team?
Be confident and give your all for Sporting and the fans.



João Matos: "Sporting fights for titles"

Do you come to Alvalade for football games?
Yes, normally. When I am playing away I can't but I always try to find a way and I follow the team as best as I can.


Sporting is about to take part in the UEFA Futsal Cup. What are your thoughts on that?
It is going to be tough, but Sporting is the favourite and we have to show on the pitch why and our only aim is to win. I really believe that we will win all three games.


Which do you think will be the toughest game?
All three games will be completely different, against three teams that play different styles of futsal. It will be a hard game against City'us Tirgu-Mures and they normally use a forward goalkeeper early on no matter how the game is going, so we have to keep hold of possession and be efficient in attack. Gyóri Eto FC is a team that plays a bit more consistently and has a fair few international player, so we have to play a good technical game. They don't have a lot of players that stand out individually, but it is a balanced team that fights hard. I think that Iberia Star Tbilisi will probably be the hardest game. It is a team full of quality Brazilian players and they have a strong pivot and they fell just short of facing us in the Final Four last year because they drew with the team that we faced in the semi-finals.


Last year Sporting finished as runner-up in this competition. Can we take it one step further this year?
We want to and it was really tough to lose the final. It was great to be part of that game but it was hard to lose. We want to get to the final again and we believe that we are good enough to do that.


Is there less margin for error this year?
Yes, without doubt. Last year we all thought that it would be our year, but this year is a bit trickier. That said, Sporting is fighting for titles now and it is investing in the squad, so we have an obligation to fight hard. The Club and the fans deserve titles.


Normally Sporting's fans follow futsal almost religiously. What would you like to say to them?
Futsal is a sport that the fans love and they normally fill out the pavilions where we play. Every game will be tough and we need that support again.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com