Timing, Casio and summer plans: Rui Borges after new Sporting deal | OneFootball

It was announced this Friday that Rui Borges has renewed with Sporting. After President Frederico Varandas’ statements at a ceremony in Alvalade, the coach himself also took the podium and spoke directly to the fans before answering questions from the journalists present.

"I’ll try to be quick and direct. First of all, I want to thank the president for his words and all the staff حاضر here. It is a great pride and a great satisfaction to renew this contract, which, just as the president said, perfectly reflects everything that defines not Rui Borges, but this coaching staff: the word work. It is a sign that the work is being recognized, and that makes us all very happy. Then, I want to say that this is the continuation of a commitment, a discipline and a huge ambition to work at this great club and to keep making Sporting’s history with trophies so that in the future we can all feel honored to have been here. That’s really it: a lot of work, a lot of commitment and a lot of ambition to keep getting better".

The coach’s requests to the board

"Did I ask for anything? I don’t ask for anything. You should know me by now. I don’t complain about anything. I’m very happy at Sporting and I will continue to be happy at Sporting. I’m in a setup where day-to-day life is very light, very honest, very clean and above all very happy".

"I set out to work more and better every day, with respect but with enormous ambition. Exactly the same ambition I had on the first day. Then we learn from everything, good things and bad things, it’s part of it. It’s up to us to work tremendously hard and happily, because we are where we want to be, through the work and merit that brought us here, so quickly, because we are very fortunate. Maybe no one believed we would be here renewing with Sporting".

And what if Sporting miss out on the Champions League next season?

"Sporting, regardless of any coach, will always be a great team, and will always have very competent and very good professionals to honor the shirt they wear and compete in everything they are involved in. Mathematically we can still finish second, and that is what we are focused on".

Timing of the renewal (and the watch)

"(The watch is different) But it’s a Casio. I appreciate the president’s trust, and the timing has everything to do with the work we have done, our path, our dialogue and our mutual belief, not only mine, but also that of all the members of the structure, who are very important, as important as, or even more important than, Sporting’s coach. Always with the same path in mind".

Squad management next season

"What’s on my mind is the next game against Vitória, and getting the win so we can keep fighting for second place, which is what we have to compete for now, and reach the end of the season with qualification for the Champions League. Then focus on winning another title, which is ours and which we very much want to keep. Next season will be prepared in due time, and to some extent it is already being prepared. Nothing is done by chance, and Sporting’s last few years have shown that, with sustainable growth and a solid foundation, so that will continue".

Assessment from the first game until today

"At the start of this season was when there was the greatest improvement. That was when Sporting were the best team playing football, but we will continue to improve, otherwise it would make no sense to believe in the future; we are always looking to evolve. We have improved a lot and we are very different from what we were on day one. In every respect. There is shared learning with the players and all departments".

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