Sporting's poor form? Rui Borges: Good thing we lost the Champions | OneFootball

Rui Borges was asked about Sporting’s recent results ahead of the match against Porto, valid for the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup. The Lions’ coach praised his players and said he expected to be well received at the Dragão.

"It’s a big-team week. It’s actually good that we lost the Champions League, it means people look at us as a great team. And that values our work and the Club. It feels very good to hear the question asked that way. If we lost the Champions League, it means we could have won it... As for the rest, I’ve already answered. We’re still in the running for everything, and that is the first objective of a big club. The players have had a fabulous season," he began by saying.

"As for the league, it’s true that we fell further behind. But there is still no champion, so we must always believe. And there is a team in first place that has had a great season, better than ours unfortunately. We have to look to the future, to the week ahead, to the next game. It could secure a place in the Cup final and, further down the line, in the Super Cup. It means a possible place in two trophy matches, and the team is highly motivated and calm in that regard. It knows what it has to do and what it means. As for whether we will be well received or not, you have to ask the opponent. Porto have been very well received at Alvalade, and we hope to be received the same way too," said Rui Borges.

It is worth remembering that Sporting hold the advantage in the tie. In the first leg, Rui Borges’ side won at the José Alvalade Stadium, 1-0, with the only goal of the game scored by Luis Suárez from the penalty spot in the 61st minute.

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