Everything Rui Borges said ahead of Sporting v Braga (25/26) | OneFootball

Rui Borges, the green and white coach, spoke with journalists at a press conference preview of the Sporting - Moreirense match, this Saturday, October 4th. The match is scheduled for next Sunday, at 7:15 PM, at the José Alvalade Stadium. Read here everything the Lions' coach said.

Motivated and Full Alvalade

"I expect a strong Braga, as is the club, the coach, and the team. It's always a great team that hasn't lost away, wants to be dominant, makes many crosses, lives a lot from the width men. Very strong, regardless of the results. And it comes motivated by the result of the Europa League. We expect a difficult match, but on this side, there will also be a super-motivated team, in a full house, and that will do everything to win".

Virginia and Diomande starters?

"Everyone must be prepared to play and not play. Whoever enters will give a good response. The confidence of the technical team is the same for everyone and the ambition is collective. Whoever plays, will have a great game".

Porto - Benfica

"Classic? The Sporting - Braga? I'm only concerned with our game, against a great team. "I'll be on my way to Mirandela, I won't watch the game. I'm concerned with Sporting and Braga. We are at the beginning of the championship, this result won't define anything. I'll be on my way to Mirandela to spend the day off"

Doubts about his abilities

About the fans, I started coaching in Mirandela, some doubted, won't they doubt at Sporting? If everyone liked the same, the world would be upside down. I have received affection since I arrived here from most of the Sporting fans, on the street, in the Stadium it has been incredible. The important thing is for Sporting to win. I believe that gradually more people believe in our work, but what moves us is winning for Sporting".

Problems in defensive aerial play

"I don't think it's an Achilles heel. Not having Diomande, we have been very competent, pressing in duels. Naples abused, and a lot, in crosses. In the only one we couldn't cancel, we suffered the second goal. But we were very competent in this aspect. But we have to find ways and weapons to cancel this strong point of the opponent. In Naples we succeeded, Simões was important, Maxi too and tomorrow it will go through there, to cancel with some details this strong point. But we can't just focus on that, it's also the team with the highest percentage of ball possession. But we play in Alvalade, we also like to have the ball, to dominate, and that's what we're going to try to do".

Defeats in big games

"If I lose with Porto and Benfica and win all the others I'm the national champion. That doesn't mean anything to me. They were games that I lost, we didn't want to. Everyone is strong and sometimes it's not with these games that championships are lost. In those three games we were competent, they were balanced, and I don't think in that specific way".

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