Coach warns Rui Borges at Sporting: Fantastic job, but... | OneFootball

Álvaro Pacheco is back in Portuguese football, and his debut couldn’t be more demanding, with a trip to Sporting’s home ground. In the preview of the match that opens the second half of Liga Portugal, the Casa Pia coach admitted that the clash at Alvalade is the perfect opportunity for the team to showcase its new identity. The coach emphasized that, despite the theoretical favoritism of the Lions, the group is motivated to give a strong response and seek some peace of mind in the league table.

"We’re going to face a good team, with great variety in their play and one that has been growing. I think that Rui Borges has been doing a fantastic job, but my focus is on my team, that’s where I spend my energy", said the Casa Pia coach, downplaying the absences in Sporting’s squad.

The Gansos’ coach believes the team can grow quickly through resilience tests like the one they’ll face at Alvalade. For Pacheco, the enthusiasm shown by the players during the week’s training is the starting point to try for success against the two-time champion. "The way they have trained and believed makes me happy because I feel we have an ambitious group with a great desire to win and wanting to make a statement", the coach stressed at the press conference.

"I know there will be many doubts, but we can never lose the desire to win, to be better, and tomorrow we have an opportunity", concluded the coach, setting the tone for the start of the 18th round. Rafael Nel and Zeno Debast are the big news for the Alvalade side.

Sporting will be back on the pitch on Friday, January 16, against Casa Pia. The match, counting for the 18th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team coached by Álvaro Pacheco, will be played at 8:15 pm, at Alvalade.

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