Rui Borges addresses the squad after Sporting v PSG and takes aim at... | OneFootball

After the public displays of satisfaction following the victory against PSG, the Sporting squad immediately returned to work, without any days off, already focusing their attention on the upcoming trip to Arouca. According to the newspaper A Bola, the message conveyed by Rui Borges to the group maintained the same line as his public statements: recognition for the attitude, commitment, and competitive level shown against a top European opponent, but also a call to continue this standard in the next league fixture.

The same source also reports that the Sporting coach emphasized the importance of maintaining intensity and seriousness against the Arouca side next Saturday, January 24, ruling out any idea of relaxation after the result achieved in the European context.

Part of the praise was directed at players who, despite not being among the first choices, have taken on a significant role due to various injury absences. Names such as Ricardo Mangas, Matheus Reis, Alisson Santos, Hidemasa Morita, and Georgios Vagiannidis were highlighted internally for their performances, having strengthened their position within the group. Even with the recent arrivals of Luís Guilherme and Souleymane Faye, squad management will continue to involve a broad distribution of minutes.

In terms of European performance, Sporting has already surpassed last season’s numbers. In the previous edition, the team collected 11 points in the group stage, 10 of which were earned under Ruben Amorim’s guidance. In the current campaign, and with one game still to play—against Athletic Bilbao on the 28th—the Lions have already accumulated 13 points, scored one more goal (14), and conceded three fewer (9).

These results were achieved in a context of tactical and structural renewal, with a new identity on the field and different attacking dynamics. Without Viktor Gyökeres in the squad, the team has found a new reference in the attacking sector in Luis Suárez, who has taken on the role of main finisher.

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