Rui Borges’ XI draws comparison to a Sporting pantomime villain | OneFootball

Rui Silva, Sporting's goalkeeper, was a guest on the program Futebol Arte on Sport TV, where he talked about his career, the influences that shaped him, and the evolution of the goalkeeper's role in modern football. When asked about the names that inspired him at Alvalade, the Portuguese international did not hesitate to highlight several significant figures from the lion's goal.

"Of the great goalkeepers I remember at Sporting? Several... from Peter Schmeichel, Nélson, Tiago... who is now my goalkeeping coach and also Rui Patrício, who is a great reference," the Sporting player emphasized.

Rui Silva also discussed the transformation of the Portuguese goalkeeper over the years, highlighting the increasing technical demands of the position: "It's becoming more distinguishable. In my time, when I started, there wasn't much talk about goalkeepers. My first coach in this area was when I was only 18, and I didn't have the necessary schooling. I knew how to defend but wasn't familiar with the technical aspects that are increasingly important."

Looking at international football, Sporting's 'number 1' pointed to Ter Stegen as a model to follow: "He is a reference. Increasingly, a goalkeeper is a team player, much more in demand; in the past, they were just there to defend. Now they have to read the depth, know how to build... anyway. In my opinion, Ter Stegen is one of the most complete. A great model for all goalkeepers."

Rui Silva also recalled the difficulties he faced adapting to Betis after several years in different competitive contexts: "It makes sense when talking about goalkeepers from big teams. I spent many years at Nacional da Madeira and Granada, teams where I had to adapt to a different style, as it was the opponents who had possession and I had more work. When I arrived at Betis, it was different, and at first, it was quite challenging. With a much higher defense, controlling the depth, more reading... And any slip is fatal. We spend a lot of time without participating in the game, and when they come to our goal, we have to be there! It's necessary to maintain focus and concentration to be effective. This position is very much about that: effectiveness."

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