Rui Borges’ message to the squad revealed ahead of Porto v Sporting | OneFootball

Rui Borges has defined Sporting's approach to the match at Estádio do Dragão against Porto, aiming to reduce the gap to the leadership to just one point. The main concern for the coach is the physical management of the squad, after the additional effort against AFS for the Portuguese Cup, which was decided only in extra time, a disadvantage the team intends to counter with the motto "when inspiration is lacking, attitude must not be."

The match against Aves was analyzed internally, with errors identified, but the focus quickly returned to the Classic. The coaching staff understands it was a game with very specific incidents and is now preparing for the duel with the dragons, seeking to exploit already identified weaknesses in the opponent. In the first-round match, on the 4th day, the team then led by Francesco Farioli appeared as a surprise; meanwhile, their profile has become more known. The blues and whites present defensive solidity but have shown difficulties in building up against medium or low blocks, an aspect the double champions intend to exploit, in a context where Porto's recent defeat against Casa Pia allows for a more pragmatic approach.

The Sporting squad was warned of a physical game, with many duels. To return to Lisbon with the three points, the team will need to maintain balance and focus on quick transitions, similar to their successful strategy in the Champions League. Attention to set-pieces was reinforced, an area where Porto has been effective. The priority is to score first, to find more spaces in attack.

In Alcochete, it was also emphasized that the result of the Classic will not be decisive for the title attribution, a message intended to relieve pressure on the players and enhance creativity in a match with a strong tactical component, given the opponent's model. According to the newspaper Record, Rui Borges also asked the group not to value the recent history at Dragão, favorable to Porto, reminding them of the psychological barriers already overcome this season, such as the victory against Athletic Bilbao, which secured direct qualification for the Champions League round of 16.

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