Rui Borges warns squad after Champions ahead of Sporting-Benfica | OneFootball

After intense days marked by their Champions League elimination against Arsenal, Sporting return to work at the Academy this Friday, now under Rui Borges, with their full focus on Sunday’s derby (6:00 p.m.) against Benfica in the league. With a short training cycle ahead, the coach is expected to prioritize the squad’s physical and, above all, mental recovery.

Aware of the demands that lie ahead — both in the league and in the Portuguese Cup, where they will face Porto — the 44-year-old coach had already delivered a message in London, expressing pride in the team’s performance while demanding an immediate response. In the session at Alcochete, he will now have the opportunity to reinforce that message with the players, seeking to turn European frustration into extra motivation for the clash with the Eagles.

Awaiting them is a Benfica side that, despite sitting in third place, remains unbeaten in the league, a fact that raises the degree of difficulty and also serves as added motivation. Rui Borges’ goal is to field a focused team, emotionally balanced and fully locked in on the derby, with the ambition of achieving an unprecedented feat: beating José Mourinho’s Eagles in the league.

In addition, the Lions are looking to end their winless run against their main domestic rivals this season. Still in the fight to retain the title, the coach is demanding a flawless finish to the campaign. For now, all attention is fixed on the clash against Benfica.

The green-and-white side will take the field next Sunday, 19 April, against Benfica. The match, valid for the 30th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic against the team coached by José Mourinho, will kick off at 6:00 p.m. at the José Alvalade Stadium.

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