Borges on Zalazar, Morita exit and Ioannidis injury after Sporting | OneFootball

After Sporting’s win over Gil Vicente (3-0), in a match valid for the 34th and final round of the Liga Portugal Betclic, Rui Borges spoke to journalists in a press conference. Check out everything the coach of the green-and-white club had to say.

Match analysis

“It was a great first half from us, dominant, without letting Gil Vicente have any success on the ball. We were very good, with good pressing timing and reactions, and we got the goals naturally, and could even have scored one more. In the second half, the opponent tried to press more, had one or two approaches, but then we managed to control the game with the ball and made it 3-0 near the end. Deserved, also because of the chances we created in the first half.”

Farewells to Quenda and Morita

“Sad because they are two great players. Quenda is at the beginning of his career, which will undoubtedly be a very good one. In a short time he gave and made his mark a lot, and I wish him the best of luck in the world. Morita is a different kind of player and, personally, I’m a great admirer of him - I already was and now I am even more so. I learned a lot and I’m sad to see him leave because he is a wonderful player, but happy for everything he gave to Sporting. Having had him as my player is something I will never forget, because of his footballing and human qualities. He will always be someone special to me and, as was made clear, to Sporting fans as well. There is some sadness, but that’s the world of football. Some leave and others will come to continue making Sporting history.”

Second place achieved

“Within the possible objectives, it gives some value to what our season was. It was the least we deserved for the ability and quality shown throughout the whole period. Fifteen less good days do not erase the extraordinary season we had. The team gave another clear response regarding the strength of this group, even with players carrying issues. The least this group deserved was second place and we still have a Portuguese Cup final to play.”

Rodrigo Zalazar

“He had a great season domestically, internationally and will possibly be at the World Cup. He will give us many solutions in our dynamics, because he is above average in footballing terms and very competitive, with enormous ambition, in the image of the group and of Sporting. I hope he has a very happy future, in line with what he has been doing. It was an opportunity we had regarding a player we wanted very much.”

Assessment of the league

“A person is always learning. Porto were more competent than us, period. We got the same number of points as last season, when we were champions, and that was not enough. I had said that doing the same would not be enough and that was proven. The group had a great league campaign, but someone else had an extraordinary one. We could have done better in some moments, but we didn’t. It is part of my growth as a coach, but I am very proud of my path at Sporting. Fortunately, the only final I didn’t manage to play in was the League Cup one, but we have been in all the key decisions.”

Overall assessment of the season

“We did everything to be champions, in some moments we couldn’t manage it and, therefore, we have to try to improve. We are in the Cup final, we only failed to reach the League Cup final, we reached the Champions League quarter-finals and we were in the title race until the end. That shows the spirit, ambition and greatness of this group very well.”

Importance of the Champions League financial boost

“I’m very cold when it comes to the market. I will have a squad with several capable players to make Sporting CP strong and competitive again. That is what we want and that is what we are going to work for.”

Return of Hjulmand and Vagiannidis after injury

“He recovered, I had already said yesterday that he was training on the pitch. He is a great captain and wanted to step up, even in pain, just like Vagiannidis, who had a great game. This is the Vagiannidis we want. I believe that after this year of some adaptation he will have a great season next year. Zeno Debast has an issue, but if the national team and the player understand that he can still contribute, that is their decision.”

Words exchanged with Morita as he left the pitch

“Just thank you for everything he helped us with. It is a delight to watch him play. He is a great reference for the group, his teammates have enormous respect for him.”

Players who improved the most tactically during the season

“I think all of them, but perhaps Maxi grew a lot in his position, Trincão, who was perhaps the one who grew the most tactically, because at some moments he has different tasks. Iván Fresneda had a great season and Geny too, more mature.”

“He may be an option for the final.”

Looking ahead to the Portuguese Cup final

“It is my only focus: to connect the team and prepare it for the demands of the game. To remember that we started this Cup in Paços de Ferreira, where we only won in extra time against a team that is fighting not to go down in the second division. Now, we are going to play against a team that is fighting for promotion. Maximum respect, concentration and demands for the Cup final.”

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