More ins and outs at Sporting this window? Rui Borges: I'm ready | OneFootball

Rui Borges shared a few words ahead of the Cinco Violinos Trophy, which will see Sporting take on Monaco next Saturday, July 25, at the José Alvalade Stadium (7:30 pm). The Lions' coach also took the opportunity to assess pre-season so far, Sporting’s transfer market activity, and also responded to the question mark surrounding the team’s new captain.

Preview and assessment of pre-season so far

"Pre-season has been going very well, those who arrived are fully integrated, they were well received, they’re responding well, and they have very good energy... Energy that the group also feels overall. It has been very good, with good matches. Not everything is perfect, far from it. We still have a lot of room to grow as a team as well. Tomorrow is another match, a good one, a good test, against a great team, with good players and a great coach too. Above all, we will try to honor, if not the greatest, then one of Sporting’s greatest generations in the best possible way. We want to keep growing in our game collectively, with a better understanding of certain things, always trying to improve something more, and add to that a very symbolic trophy for many of us. We really want to honor that golden generation"

Transfer market departures

"Important players, but I think that’s the natural course of teams and football itself. As for some changes, I, as a coach, am very calm about it. I’m prepared for the demands, above all, of what Sporting is. The club will always be Sporting, it will always be a great club, competing for the titles it is involved in. I’m grateful to those who pass through, leave behind a glorious and positive past, and will remain marked in the Club’s history. Now, it’s about looking ahead, helping those who arrived to grow, and continuing to be a strong, improving and, above all, winning Sporting"

A team in Rui Borges’s image

A team more in Rui Borges’s image: We can never be copying what already exists. We are always looking to improve, create and be different in our day-to-day work, on our path. It was difficult to find players like Morten [Hjulmand]. Morten is Morten, Sergi [Altimira] will be Sergi. I don’t know whether he’ll be better or worse, he’ll be different, with different characteristics. Above all, we know that the work we had to do as a structure and as a club is being done very well. It was something that was worked on well from early on, and we are extremely happy with those who arrived. They are well integrated and giving good responses, which is what we want and hope for overall. We have to follow our path, thanking those who left for a glorious past, but football is just like that"

More transfer activity

"At this moment, we are happy with what we have. What we needed to anticipate, we anticipated well. At this stage, we are happy. Everyone is responding very well. People will always talk about arrivals and departures, because this is Sporting, and until the last day of the market there will always be talk of players leaving and coming in. I’ve already seen more than 50 players linked with Sporting, so it’s natural, I don’t pay much attention to that. I’m focused on the group I have and I’m happy with it. If someone leaves, at that moment we will make decisions or not, depending on what our needs will be"

Sporting’s future captain

"We will make decisions further ahead, but right now, within the squad we already have captains in place. There is [Gonçalo] Inácio, there is Dani [Bragança] as well, who was part of the group of captains. Eduardo Quaresma had also already been captain with us last year, in one or two matches. At this stage, we are well led. Then, perhaps, we may or may not add something more to the list of captains"

Youth academy players catching the eye

"They work for it, and above all, it is about continuing Sporting’s identity. Its academy is always bearing fruit. We hope that continues to be the case. The youngsters have been giving that response in this pre-season. Throughout this year and a half at Sporting, they have helped a lot. In the year we became two-time champions, the youngsters helped us a lot. It is something natural at the club, that growth, that commitment to youth... Because we also have quality there and because they earn it every day through their effort and discipline. I am Sporting’s coach, happy with the squad I have and highly motivated for the season ahead".

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