Porto dig, late goals: Rui Borges on Moreirense v Sporting | OneFootball

Rui Borges addressed the match between Sporting and Moreirense in a press conference at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy. The coach gave an update on the Alvalade Club’s medical report, Porto’s provocations, the return of Luis Suárez, and the team’s current moment. Check out everything he said.

Analysis of the Moreirense team and recoveries

“For me, it’s special because I’m returning to a club I’m grateful to and that will always be special in my life. It has grown a lot and has built a great reputation in the 1st League. They play well and create big difficulties at home. The coach is also doing a good job. We know it’s always a tough ground, but we’ll do everything to win.”

Zeno Debast and Fotis Ioannidis

“I’m not going to go into detail here, he’s going through a normal recovery process and I think he’s close to returning. As for Ioannidis, he’s also recovering and could be in the squad tomorrow.”

Time to ask the team for pragmatism?

“It’s not about pragmatism, we just have to have a better second half of the season. We didn’t finish first, so we have to do better. Teams will be more competitive in the second half and the games might get uglier, because everyone just wants to win. Sometimes that pragmatism can make us think we have to score and that we have to get a goal if we don’t want to lose. But I have no doubt that this won’t affect the players’ mentality. As for the goals, it’s important to note that we’ve scored in 41 consecutive games. So, we’re always pressing the opponent and close to scoring. Villas-Boas’ attacks on Varandas? I won’t comment on that, the president has already spoken.”

Benfica’s turbulent moment

“You all shift your attention between the three (big clubs) and that won’t affect the outcome of the league. It might affect one or two things they hear or read, but nothing more than that. It was also important to avoid those two games with the qualification, which saved us two matches and an absurd amount of wear.”

Goals at 90’

“Pressure is part of any athlete or high-level team. Of course it’s important to play well, but you can’t always win 5-0. I think we did well in the last game, I think we broke the record for corners won. But teams are also defending better and better. What I want is to win every game. I wouldn’t even mind winning 1-0 every time until the end of the season, even with goals at 90’.”

What do you expect from Moreirense?

“I know well what Moreirense is like playing at home and away. In the early stages, sometimes teams start wasting time to create some expectation, but we have to know how to handle the pressure. The first leg was one of our best games, but this one will be different. I expect a Moreirense that will try to split the game and wants to play, very different from the first leg.”

Response to Porto

“Yes, I grew up in the 80s, playing in the street, with my mother calling me to the balcony to eat soup at 9:30 pm, with no tablets or new technologies. With very good manners. Then, maybe Porto is right... In terms of tablets and technology, they’re ahead of everyone else. As for Pote and Morita, they’ve been as expected, with good passing accuracy, as has Hjulmand, but they can’t always be at their best, that’s just how it is.”

Return of Luis Suárez

“It could also be at 90’, since he’s scored them then too. He’s our top scorer, who adds a lot to the team with his qualities. He’s scored many goals and is an extraordinary player.”

Moreirense’s strongest point

“It will be breaking through their defensive block. They’ve had great teams in recent years and have added a lot of youth. Very strong collectively and on the counterattack, but they also like to have the ball. Then they have some individuals, like Alanzinho, who has the quality to go further. Then Maracás and Dinis Pinto, who are very good defenders and were my players.”

Where does Luís Guilherme fit in?

“Luis Guilherme brought what I said, he can play on the right, left, or inside. He has a huge future ahead of him. He has very good quality, has already played in all three positions and is still adapting. As for the midfielders, we have to understand the best moment for each one. Bragança is more similar to Morita; Simões gives us other things. Then we’ll decide what makes the most sense for each game.”

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