Diomande v Gyokeres, aim and strategy; Rui Borges on Sporting v Arsenal | OneFootball

Rui Borges previewed the clash between Sporting and Arsenal. The coach wants to keep making history in the Champions League, also highlighted the role of the fans, spoke about Viktor Gyokeres’ return to Alvalade and says he expects a balanced tie.

Objective

"Make the dream a reality, that is what we want. To continue, in some way, to carve out our path individually and collectively, and to make history at a great Club like Sporting. We hope and believe that we can keep doing something extraordinary and, for that, the help of our fans will be very important. May they once again make Alvalade a magical place. It is very important in order to overcome a great Arsenal".

"He is a great player, but our focus is on the collective. It is a team full of individual talent and any lapse in concentration on our part can make the difference. We know what Viktor is capable of. He is a great player and great players, no matter how well we know them, can always make the difference."

Favourites

"I think that at this stage of the Champions League you cannot label anyone as favourites. These are two great teams contesting an advanced stage of the competition. Two teams that have left a positive mark on their journey. Arsenal have nine wins in ten matches, but on the other side there is a Sporting team that has only wins at home, that finished in the top eight when no one expected it. There will be respect on both sides. Each team with its own ideas, virtues and flaws. There are no clear favourites on either side, but I believe our fans can make a small difference to help us overcome a team that is among the three best in Europe".

Best time of the season to face Arsenal

"I do not believe that, especially because it is a great team and great teams want to win everything. In some way, they come wounded by what was the elimination, more rigorous, focused and eager to show their quality. Honestly, I think that only makes our job harder. But on our side they will also find a super motivated team, one that believes it is capable of doing something extraordinary and something that has never been done at Sporting".

Does the title race affect Champions League performances?

"Sporting will always want to be competitive in every competition, but our Champions League is the league. That is our main objective. Now, we are going to fight to keep doing something different. The collective has given that response, the great group we have. Tomorrow, whoever plays, will once again give a great response. We will honour the badge we wear on our chest and put in a good performance".

Ousmane Diomande vs Viktor Gyokeres

"They are two super competitive players and it is only natural that, at some point, there was a spark, in the good sense of the word. They have above-average intensity, but to stop Viktor, we have four great centre-backs. Any of them, in his own way and style, is capable of providing an answer."

Last meeting with the ‘gunners’

"The focus is on the present, not last year, so that we can achieve an ever better and more memorable future. I will say it again, these are two great teams, but different phases, different seasons. Arsenal are perhaps even stronger than last year. Sporting are different, they are a super competitive team, and tomorrow they will not stray from their idea. Now, we know the difficulties we are going to face."

Strategy

"I am not going to reveal the strategy, because otherwise Arsenal FC will know everything we do [laughs]. It is a team with some variability, depending not only on the midfielders, but also on the wing-backs. We have to be very focused collectively, even more than individually. These are totally different matches and the focus and discipline have to be even greater. This team, in a split second, can make us pay dearly. Above all, I believe we will be prepared for that."

Reception for Viktor Gyokeres

"He is a player who will certainly be warmly received by all of us. He made history at Sporting, in the Portuguese league, and deserves that recognition from everyone. There is no resentment. I try to be a balanced person. He was an important player for us and everyone, fans and members, has enormous affection for him. I understand his ambition and we ended up reaching a good understanding for both sides. Everything happened as it should have, in a reasonably correct way for Sporting and for the player. It is natural that he wanted to take that step in his career and we respected him. Football is like this: today you are here, tomorrow you are elsewhere. The only thing that does not change is the Club. Players change, coaches change, but Sporting will continue to win and to be a great club at European level. I wish him the best of luck in the world, because the admiration is great."

Viktor Gyokeres and the doubts in England

"I believe he went through an adaptation period in the early stage of English football, because of the style of play in the league and Arsenal’s idea. Because of all his individual characteristics, he needed to adapt and he is back to what he does well, which is scoring goals. Viktor had a huge impact in terms of goals and, by not being able to score them, given the amount he cost, it is natural that at first the fans were doubtful. But the truth always comes out. He will keep scoring goals, wherever he is."

Did Sporting need a great European campaign?

"I believe it is a process. It is part of Sporting’s growth at every level. Things happen naturally when the Club is well structured. Everyone knows the path, there are detours and ‘stones’, that is part of it, but the key is knowing how to get around them and keep going. If everything is well connected and everyone is aligned, that growth will be noticeable from year to year. It was all just a matter of time and I believe it will be even better in the future".

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