Everything Rui Borges said ahead of Nacional v Sporting (2025/26) | OneFootball

Rui Borges, the green and white coach, spoke with journalists in a press conference previewing the Nacional - Sporting match this Friday, August 22. The match is scheduled for next Saturday, at 6:00 pm, at Choupana. Read here everything the lions' coach said.

Playing in Madeira

"It ends up being something motivating for their growth, to believe. That's what happened a bit last year. In the initial phase, more adaptation, trying to better understand the idea. I think they are looking for that. For more consistency in the game idea. Five or six players left from the base eleven and they are looking for the best dynamics. Despite everything, they are quite difficult at home. I've been there and I know beforehand what it's like to play at Choupana. It will always be difficult. Due to the climatic aspect, which we don't know what can happen, due to the humidity, the heat... It's trying to be prepared for that. What we control, we have to be prepared. Last year, Nacional was the sixth or seventh team with the most on-target shots. They are very objective, vertical and are looking for their best moment. They will be super motivated to face a champion Sporting. Just for that, any team will be motivated. Connect this to the stadium, to the difficulty of playing at Choupana. I believe we will be prepared".

Market rumors

"They are called up for tomorrow, the rest you would have to ask Bernardo [Palmeiro]. My job is to train and keep them focused for the game with Nacional. I work in a big club, here the day-to-day will always be talking about entries and exits. If I focused on that, I wouldn't train. Both are at their maximum strength, waiting for the coach's choices".

Rayan Lucas situation

"Let's take it step by step. He's a kid who came to the B team. We see a lot of potential and believe in him. For the B team, he would be a more mature and capable player, despite his tender age, to help the kids who are here. He's a national team kid, who will most likely be in the U-20 World Cup in a month. We will enhance him. But he has to understand, and he has understood, that he is growing. He likes to listen, understand and works very well. But he is adapting to the demands of European football, Sporting demands. He has given a good response in training and trains most of the time with us. Despite being young, he has a different maturity. He is capable of giving a good response and I believe that, in the future, he can be important in the A team. But he is a B team player, he came in the context of helping the B team. And we, we try to help him so that in the future he becomes a player of the main team. Both he and anyone else. But he's a national team kid and that says a lot about the quality he has. We believe in what he can give in the future. He is very very humble, likes to work and listen".

Vagiannidis' starting

"They have all given that response, to be able to play and start. Vagiannidis was our signing, it's natural for speculation about whether he will play or not. I see him happy to be here and I said that last week. He left his habitat, his country, came to a different demand. He has had this daily growth, adapts very well. Sometimes he is still a bit shy and that shows. But he will be ready for the coach's decisions. And I say again: now we are still playing week by week, then we will play every three days. And then everyone will have to play. There is no other way. Nobody is a robot, they are all human beings. And all of them will be starters then. Vagiannidis, Ivan [Fresneda]... Vagiannidis came in at half-time because the game was more comfortable, Fresneda already had a yellow... We opted for that variant. Two players who are prepared and have given a good response".

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.