Porto, Famalicão, Suárez’s replacement: Rui Borges on Sporting | OneFootball

Rui Borges addressed the match between Sporting and Famalicão in a press conference at the Artur Agostinho Auditorium in Alvalade. The coach praised "one of the best teams in the league," spoke about the options up front and commented on the incidents in the Clássico against Porto.

"Above all, I expect a team true to itself. It’s a team that has its own playing style, likes to maintain it throughout all matches, regardless of the opponent, and adapts well to the moment of the game. In my view, it’s a good team, very competitive, very intense, a team that commits many fouls. You can clearly see the intensity they put into the game, and their defensive organization is also very competent. It’s a team with a lot of wing play, lots of one-on-ones, many combinations. A team that crosses a lot, looking for references and men in the box. So, above all, I think it’s a very competent team and one of the best in the league. They’re having a good season, even if here and there they’ve had a less successful result or performance. Overall, it’s a good team."

Managing the attack

"We’ve tested some solutions. Fotis is doubtful for the game. We’ll see if he can contribute or not. So, among the players we have available, we’ll start with 11, for sure. But, honestly, I still don’t know who will play. But, within the available options, we’ll look for some individual characteristics. Of course, never straying from our idea and what identifies us collectively."

Post-clássico

"I think we, and you too who have that role, should value the players, the teams, the game, and our football much more. Now, I also agree that some things that happened shouldn’t be downplayed, because it seemed like we were going back to the last century. We’re in 2026, I don’t think we should downplay it. Now, I won’t get into that fight. I’m much more focused on trying to value football itself, the game, the players from both teams, not just Sporting, because there were great players on the pitch. And, above all, we have to value those who play football and those who make it such a spectacular sport."

Is Sporting ‘hostage’ to Luis Suárez?

"It’s natural to think that way, because Luis has been very important and scored many goals. Now, Luis manages to score them thanks to a great collective, not just individual quality. That’s what we focus on daily: our collective. And then, within a strong collective, yes, individual talent comes to the fore. It’s impossible to say he isn’t an important piece and he’ll always be missed. But, as I always say, only those who are here are missed. I’ll focus on the 11 I choose and the others I have on the bench. And, for sure, we’ll be competent, so we don’t stray from what we’ve been as Sporting, to maintain good quality of play, our own dynamic, and to beat a good Famalicão."

Performance in the clássico

"Two great teams, two very competent teams. There are some things we could have done differently, but not just in this game, in all of them. After reviewing, we always see things differently. Now, above all, we played a very competent match. We played against the team with the best defense. It’s a team that defends its goal very well. Could we have done more? We could. But that’s always the case after watching things. And watching the game on TV is always easier, we can see things differently, but it was never due to a lack of ambition from anyone."

Souleymane Faye up front?

"Any player from the forward line can play as a striker, not just Faye. We’ll try to understand what the best option is and what makes the most sense. But he’s not the only one who can give us that solution. I think any forward can play there, and several have trained in that position."

Could Francisco Trincão be an option up front?

"He’s clearly a player who can also play there. As I’ve said, any forward can play as a striker. So, I’m not worried. They’ll have different characteristics, that’s what we have, but we’ll fight, that’s for sure. And we’ll be competent. And we’ll win, against a great team, but we’ll win, we’ll do everything to win. Above all, let me praise Trincão. He’s always for the team and I’ve said that a lot. I think he’s one of the players who has given the most for the team. After the game with Porto, I was asked a question, and I explained a bit. It’s about understanding the circumstances, because being a coach from the outside is sometimes easy. ‘Ah, I’d put these 11, ah, I’d win this game.’ Of course. But you have to understand a lot of things."

Could Rafael Nel be an option?

"Yes, he’s called up. He’s been training with us, he’s even been among the players available for matches, and he’s another option. He trained in his position and, depending on what we plan for the game, we’ll see what the best starting option is, whether it’s Nel or any other player who plays in the forward line."

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