Everything Rui Borges said ahead of Sporting v PSG in the Champions League | OneFootball

Rui Borges spoke to journalists at a press conference previewing the Sporting - PSG match, this Monday, January 19th. The match is scheduled for next Tuesday, at 8:00 PM, at Estádio José Alvalade. Read here everything the Lions' coach said, who is dealing with several absences.

Sporting's ability to play in the Champions League

"It will be a great game, a Champions League match. We have to show our maturity in this competition. We have been winning at home, it has been our fortress. Sporting, because of the great team it is, has shown what it is capable of, playing both home and away. We have to be able to do it again against a great team, perhaps the best in Europe, having won this trophy. We were lucky in the draw to get two of the top three: Bayern and PSG. I would add Arsenal here... It has been a source of pride for us. It has been a huge motivation. We have to show that we are up to the challenge to compete with them."

Biggest challenge of your career?

"What challenged me the most was the first day I entered this club. Any day I spend at Sporting is the happiest day of my life. My biggest challenge. I am at a great club and every day I have to be better, to add to Sporting's history. Facing the best in Europe has to be a good motivation for everyone, to show that we are capable. Above all, a challenge for all of us. It's not the biggest challenge... Injuries? It's something I already talked about before the Casa Pia game. Pote and Ousmane Diomande might be available, not certain, for the Arouca game."

Number of injured players starting to decrease

"The numbness is already passing... Zeno [Debast] is back, Dani [Bragança] too. Maybe Pote and Ousmane [Diomande] will be back for the next game. Of course, it makes the team more capable, stronger. For tomorrow, we have to have the courage to face the best, both collectively and individually. Regardless of who plays, everyone has to be motivated. Sporting has shown the greatness of this collective, not just in the Champions League. It's important who will be on the field to give a great response.

Absence of Hjulmand? Someone else will play. We'll play with eleven. Whoever plays will respond. Above all, the team has shown that it is capable, that everyone is a solution, everyone is a great player. When a teammate is missing, they motivate themselves to show that we are a true team and we are there for each other."

PSG's power

"The team has given a huge response in Champions League matches. We are playing at home now, where we have always won. Tomorrow we face the best team, the one with the most possession in the Champions League, the most passes, the most goals, tied with Dortmund, I think. I don't even look at the French league stats... It's a very strong team in reaction to loss, in offensive transition, with many goals. We have to understand where we can't lose the ball and where we can create some danger. I believe they will look at Sporting with respect, given what we have done."

How do the 'sharks' see Sporting?

"A few days ago I read something from a Barcelona player talking about Sporting. That motivates us to show that we are good and who we are as a team. We respect those on the other side, we face difficulties and show what we are as Sporting, not just externally, but internally too. They look at us differently... That is the team's merit, as I have said, for the last few years. It's up to us to show that we are a great Sporting, with great players. The collective makes the individual stand out. We know what PSG is capable of, but we also know that they respect us in their own way. They know there is a motivated team here, with fans who can help us overcome PSG. We have to be very courageous and, above all, very responsible."

Is a solid defense at home the main weapon?

"I think it's not just the defensive moment, but also the offensive one. We have shown we are a great team. It will be a game with two offensive teams, who like to score. It really shows the quality of both. We know that, on the other side, there is a very strong collective, with the best in the world in their positions. We have to know how to neutralize that individual part of PSG. Games are increasingly decided by an individual detail, an inspiration. We have to be able to neutralize, in some way, that inspiration."

Sporting eyeing the top 8

"I only focus on tomorrow's game, then we'll see what we are capable of, which will always have a consequence. We'll see the consequence then. Only after that will we think about the Athletic Bilbao game. I don't make calculations in advance. I want the team to show its offensive and defensive quality, continuing our growth. We have a lot of quality."

Is Sporting inspired by the Munich approach offensively?

"The organization was not different... I understand the question because Edu [Quaresma] played, but it was at full-back. We didn't change. We don't change anything we do. We just faced a great team that forced us to play in a lower block. It's not usual. With great teams there are other difficulties. Bayern was able to do it and I believe tomorrow PSG, given the data I just mentioned, will be the same. They don't have a fixed position in relation to the midfielders, even with Vitinha. João Neves will not play. It will be difficult for us to activate our internal pressing mechanisms that we like. It will force us to spend more time in a medium-low block. It depends on what we are playing against. On our side, nothing changes. At times, we may have a back five... The team is confident and showed that against Casa Pia. We are there for each other. They are made of that fiber. They want to give their best when someone is missing. If there's one thing I don't need to do, it's motivate them. Whether we get points or not, we go into the game to win. That's what we always do, regardless of the opponent."

Alvalade's fortress warns PSG and Faye's arrival in Lisbon

"He is in Lisbon, but he is not a Sporting player. I won't go into much detail for now [laughs]. When he is presented, you can ask. Regarding the fortress [of Alvalade], I believe coach Luis Enrique has looked at what our home games have been like in the Champions League, but also in away matches. For everything we have been able to do. You yourselves say that Sporting probably plays better. We are not in first place, that's true, and I always give credit to those who are. Merit. We have shown our personality over time. Responsibilities increase. We have to fail and make fewer mistakes, especially against great teams, with individual ability that can change the game. The team is courageous and confident for tomorrow's game."

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