The attacker reflects on the Champions League bow

After the game against Arsenal FC, Francisco Trincão reacted to the UEFA Champions League elimination in the mixed zone at the Emirates Stadium.

Feelings after the tie
“I feel proud of the group, the team, and the fans. We wanted more, we believed we could do more, but we are proud.”

Assessment of the two legs
“There's a little frustration, because throughout the two games we realised what we could be capable of doing. We managed to create our opportunities and even the game out. It could have gone either way, but above all we are proud of what we did and now we have to think about what's to come.”

The impact of the elimination
“My mother always says that football is like this, with both the good and the bad, and in three days we have another game. We have to be focused on the next one and prepare for it in the best way.”

His 200th game for Sporting CP
“I'm happy about it, it's a huge source of pride to play 200 games for Sporting CP, my club.”

Belief in third successive Liga Portugal title
“That’s why we’re here. We’re going to fight until the end. As long as it’s possible, we’ll believe and do our job.”

The coach assesses the Champions League exit

After the 0-0 draw against Arsenal that ended Sporting CP's journey in the UEFA Champions League, coach Rui Borges analysed the game in his press conference.

Overall analysis of the tie
"The word 'pride' is the right one to describe the team. Based on everything we did in these two games, I think we deserved more, and to at least take the tie into extra time today. In both games, the best opportunities belonged to Sporting CP. The character and personality we showed in fighting against one of the best teams in Europe was fantastic. The word 'pride' is the right one to describe this group and the demonstration of character, strength and quality they have shown throughout the season. Of course, today it has more impact because it's the Champions League, but we showed that we are also the best."

The possible penalty on Maxi Araújo
"I'm not going to talk about that because it would devalue what we did throughout the game, our ability and our quality."

Strategy fulfilled
“Strategically, the team were fantastic. We had the best opportunities to score, and Arsenal didn't create as many -both today and at Alvalade. With the ball, the aim was to prevent the game from flowing, to get into Arsenal's midfield and have organised attacks to wear them down. We are a team that like to have the ball, with an offensive style of play, and we didn't shy away from that. We showed our ideas, character, and personality, and that makes me very proud.”

The ambition shown
“We were very ambitious in both games; the best chances belonged to Sporting CP. This shows the collective and individual ambition and quality we have. We were courageous and committed; we are playing in the Champions League.”

The derby against SL Benfica
“Now we're thinking about the next game. It's about recovering, catching our breathe and thinking about it calmly. SL Benfica are fresher because they play once a week, but we'll go into the game with our spirit, ambition, and with our fans. Their energy will be very important, and I'm appealing to them now, so that on Sunday they are as they have been: At the team's level.”

Feelings after the outcome
“There can be no frustration, but rather pride in the two great games we managed to play against one of the best teams in Europe. If we want to be among the best in Europe, we have to be able to respond to this demand every three days. It has to propel us forward for the coming games. We can't lower our level. It has to serve as motivation, and never as frustration.”

Difficulties in scoring and the keys to defensive consistency
“Arsenal have one of the best defensive lines in Europe, with very strong and fast defenders. Physically, we are not a strong team in duels; we like a possession-based game and some transitions. It was important to be able to settle in and keep possession, with long attacks, without letting the game get away from us. In defensive terms, we didn't let Arsenal create chances. We were very compact, focused, and rigorous. The team were fantastic.”

The European campaign
“It's been very positive. We made history for Sporting CP and we can look back with pride. We have to look at it positively and think that it's the beginning of a dream, of the club's growth, so that more and more people look at Sporting CP differently. The feeling is one of pride, but we still have a long way to go and should always be growing.”

Pedro Gonçalves' form
“He had a good game and the team even dropped off when he went off. He's looking for his best form still, but he's important for us and his numbers speak for themselves.”

A lack of luck
“Whether it be luck or bad luck, I don't care much about that. Luck takes a lot of work. I say we could have been more effective. Luck is about work and competence, and we always try to have a lot of that.”

A 1-0 aggregate scoreline sees the team miss out on the semifinals

Sporting CP's thrilling UEFA Champions League campaign came to an end in London at the hands of Arsenal, as a goalless draw with the Gunners saw Rui Borges' men eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

Going into the second leg with a 1-0 deficit from the first meeting at Alvalade, the team needed to attack, and at the Emirates Stadium were up against an out of form Arsenal. Borges fielded a starting XI with three changes compared to the one used in the league game against Estrela de Amadora: Ousmane Diomande and Gonçalo Inácio returned to the defensive line, Eduardo Quaresma was moved to right-back to cover for the absence of Iván Fresneda, while in midfield Daniel Bragança gave way for the return of Hidemasa Morita to the starting lineup. The main novelty was the return of captain Morten Hjulmand after suspension.

Arsenal, without Martin Ødegaard and Riccardo Calafiori but welcoming back Piero Hincapié, Christian Mosquera and Gabriel Martinelli in their lineup, began the game with suffocating intensity, but Sporting CP were able to stifle that impetus by maintaining possession for longer periods. 

Their first chance in attack was a powerful shot from Luis Suárez that went wide, although he was later called offside.

Defensive inaccuracies opened the game up for more  opportunities, and the two teams exchanged blows successively. Neither Francisco Trincão nor Viktor Gyökeres were on target with their respective shots, and Geny Catamo only failed to score from a counter-attack because of Martinelli's defensive recovery. Inácio was also crucial in blocking what seemed like a certain goal from Gyökeres in the six-yard box.

Sporting CP had two great chances for Pedro Gonçalves, then in a pivotal moment Maxi Araújo crossed to the far post and Geny Catamo rushed in with a first-time shot, which hit the post.

The first half ended goalless, with reasons to believe in a comeback.

Right after the restart, Araújo entered the Gunners' area, cut inside and shot across goal, but the effort went just wide.

Arsenal, who hadn't threatened for some time, had an initial reaction with a long-range attempt by Eberechi Eze, saved by Rui Silva.

The current Premier League leaders brought on Kai Havertz, replacing Gyökeres, and gained new momentum, issuing a more serious warning when Noni Madueke cut in from right and shot into the side netting.

Sporting CP regained possession and approached goal, and in the 65th minute Araújo complained of a push in the back inside the area -although no penalty was given.

Shortly after, Rui Borges made changes to try and add more unpredictability to play, with the entries of Geovany Quenda and Daniel Bragança, joined by João Simões moments later.

Arsenal took advantage of the constant stop-start nature of the game to keep things under control. Sporting CP began to lack energy and solutions.

Later, the Gunners had Leandro Trossard, unmarked at the far post during a corner, head the ball against the post.

Gabriel Jesus also got into the area and shot into the side netting.

Sporting CP, driven by their belief, managed one last chance in stoppage time, with a long ball from Quenda into the area that fell to João Simões. He struck low and the ball went just wide of the post.

The 0-0 scoreline on the night was not enough to see the team through to the semi-finals, and they bowed out with their heads held high after a momentous European campaign.

Sporting CP now return home for Liga Portugal action on Sunday, as the Estádio José Alvalade hosts the derby against SL Benfica.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GR], Eduardo Quaresma (Georgios Vagiannidis, 85’), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (João Simões, 77’), Geny Catamo (Geovany Quenda, 71’), Pedro Gonçalves (Daniel Bragança, 71’), Francisco Trincão (Rafael Nel, 85’), Luis Suárez