Rui Borges hails another Sporting gem besides Blopa: a cut above | OneFootball

Rui Borges admitted the retention of Salvador Blopa and Flávio Gonçalves in the main team, at least concerning training. The coach analyzed the Sporting - Marinhense match this Saturday, won 3-0 by the lions, and mentioned that the 'number 58' of the lions is "exceptional".

"If I didn't believe they were capable of responding at any moment, I wouldn't even play them in these games. I see a lot of quality in all of them, they have been giving a very good response in team B and have passed on that confidence to us individually. Salvador Blopa made another assist today; in the League Cup, they all had given a good response as well. Blopa gave us another very good demonstration of his ability against a low-block team, delivering many quality crosses, so he met expectations, like everyone else. Flávio Gonçalves is exceptional and we will rely on them, over time, not just in the Cups but in other competitions as well," he said at the press conference.

The coach mentioned that injuries allow young Academy players to emerge on big stages: "Within the immediate plan, they will probably continue to work with us, they can be important considering the absences we have. They are players we look at with a good future perspective and in whom we believe a lot. When they have to respond in team A, they will, and when not, they will be in their natural habitat, which is team B. They know they cannot neglect their work, and perhaps that's why they have been called more often."

Rui Borges also spoke about the use of Francisco Trincão: "He was rested in the National Team, so it made no sense not to be an option. He was well, fresh, wanted to play, was serious - sometimes more skillful players can go overboard - but he was a solution, and it's good that we had him. He scored two goals that he deserved, he has been playing great games and only lacked that sequence. The National Team has great players, they all play in big clubs, it's difficult to choose 11 and leave another 11 out, all starters in their clubs and with above-average quality. I'm happy to see him in the national team, like Pedro Gonçalves, Rui Silva, more regular options, or Geovany Quenda and João Simões, who could also be there... even Ricardo Mangas, whom I believe can get there and be a solution."

The coach of the lions reiterated that he is very happy at Alvalade: "I'm living my dream, I'm where I want to be. If I stayed here for ten years, I would be the happiest coach in the world and I will continue to fight to win trophies. That's what this great Club demands. We are the ones who make the dream, and we will chase them. I still want to win the League Cup and the Super Cup, which I haven't won yet. These are trophies I will seek to conquer, for us to grow as a coaching team. I am the leader and the face, but those behind me work immensely and are very important. If I am here, I owe it to them, and we still have much to conquer," he concluded.

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