Rui Borges names main culprit for Sporting's failed three-peat | OneFootball

Rui Borges said he sees himself as chiefly to blame for Sporting not winning the much-coveted third straight league title. Speaking on the sidelines of the preview for the match against Gil Vicente, the Lions’ coach gave a kind of assessment of the season, which is about to end.

"I say that because I’m demanding with myself. I always want to win, and I didn’t manage it. That means I have to be more competent. Me and my coaching staff. I’ve already said that I will always stand up for my team because they give everything, they are an extraordinary group. When things don’t go so well, it’s because I should have helped better in some way, been more determined. And that is part of a coach’s growth. Hopefully there will be a year when we win all the time, but it’s difficult. It has to do with daily demands and growth as a coach," he began.

Rui Borges also again defended his players: "More than thinking about whether it defines the season... I’ve already said that those 15 days were not what defined what the players did this season. And I can’t say that, because of one game, they didn’t have a good season. They were competent; I’m the one who has to help in a better way. They always want the best. Sometimes they won’t manage it, and I will always stand up and take responsibility. That is not what will define whether the season was good or bad; I don’t see things from that perspective."

The match between Sporting and Gil Vicente is scheduled for next Saturday, May 16. The clash, part of the final round of the National Championship, against the side coached by César Peixoto, will be played at the José Alvalade Stadium at 8:30 p.m.

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