The coach talks before the Taça de Portugal final against SL Benfica

After winning their second consecutive Liga Portugal title, Sporting Clube de Portugal have one more game remaining this season: They face SL Benfica at 5:15 pm this Sunday at the Estádio Nacional de Jamor, in the final of the Taça de Portugal.

Coach Rui Borges attended the press conference previewing the game, answering questions from journalists.

A dream come true to be at Jamor
"It's a dream come true. You have to enjoy it, because of everything it represents for me and for many people. It's a party, but we want to win the game. We approach each game wanting to win, as we always have, and tomorrow is no exception. We want to reach the end of the competition and fulfill the dream of winning the cup."

His experience
"I'm dealing with it with happiness, but above all, I'm keeping things in perspective. I'm happy to have won the biggest trophy in national football, and I feel that the path I've taken has been successful, but I know that everything goes by very quickly. I try to be very balanced. I try to enjoy the experience, but we really want to keep winning and making history for Sporting CP. This is a trophy that has been eluding us for some time, and we haven't won this 'double' for over 20 years. We want our 18th Taça de Portugal."

Memories of the cup as a player
"I didn't have the opportunity to play in Liga Portugal. I played in all the divisions except the Primeira Liga, which I only experienced when I became a coach. For those in the lower divisions, the only dream we have a chance of making happen is winning the Taça de Portugal. It was something that motivated us a lot and that I really liked. The cup was always on our minds, hence my happiness at being able to play in the final tomorrow."

SL Benfica
"More than any player, we will focus on what SL Benfica will do as a team. Sporting CP had the best attack and the best defence in the league, which dictates the motivation of the opponents for tomorrow's final. We will face a great team that will do everything to come away with the trophy. We have become league champions, and that always affects the opposing team."

The opponents' motivation
"They will be really motivated to win the cup. They won the Taça da Liga and we became Liga Portugal champions. We were the two best teams in the country and it will be a good game. They will be very motivated, as will we, as we want the 'double' and to continue this beautiful time at Sporting CP. The group really deserve to be happy again and win another trophy, in a season of overcoming adversity."

Ousmane Diomande
"He is in doubt until kickoff. He is working hard and is the only one who is in doubt. We will wait for tomorrow."

What has changed at Sporting CP since the arrival of Rui Borges
"We have been growing in some ways. We have been adapting. It's been a huge challenge for the coaching staff to understand some things and manage the players. We are very good at listening, because if you can't get the players on your side there is no point in being a good coach. It's been a huge challenge, but it was very easy because the group are incredible. They have a great friendship and family spirit, and no one has strayed from the path or purpose. They have had a fantastic ability to overcome obstacles, without losing the ambition to win. We really deserved to be league champions and, now, to win the Taça de Portugal."

Morten Hjulmand
"Morten's importance to the group is obvious and that's why, at 25 years of age, he is the captain of Sporting CP. You just have to look at him to see that everyone respects his presence. He is very calm and thoughtful, and he always connects the group. He has the right words, said at the right moments. To represent everything he represents for the club and the team at 25 years of age is something special. As a coach, I'm lucky to have a leader like him. He has a contract with the club and I am at peace in that sense. He really likes Sporting CP and is happy here."

Comparisons with last season's final
"Sporting CP were strong last season and are very strong this year. We have been champions both years and are very focused on this year. There is nothing that can be done about last season's final. These are different times and different opponents. I hope it is a great game and that we are able to play as we want, especially away from home."

The supporters
"I would like to say a few words to our fans, who have been incredible and will continue to be tomorrow, I'm sure. I would like to thank them because they were very important in winning the league. They will be very important in our ability to win the cup tomorrow. I would like to appeal for fair play, because my memories of the cup are always good. May it be the same tomorrow, on and off the pitch. I hope everybody knows how to behave, supports those they should support, respect each other, have fun, make the most of the cup celebration and may Sporting CP win in the end. I want the game to be remembered as a great game and a beautiful celebration."

Another decisive derby
"Like the others, it will be a very competitive game. All of these games have different characteristics, but they are all very competitive. Individual quality, for both sides, will come through at times and make the difference. These are two teams that know each other very well. It will be decided by details, as has happened in other games."

Viktor Gyökeres
"He is very happy at Sporting CP. He is very focused on tomorrow's game, he wants to score and he is obsessed with that. He is very focused on the final and he knows he has had a great season. He is the best striker in Europe, as the numbers show. He will be attractive prospect, but I believe that if he doesn't leave Sporting CP he will remain very attached to the club. He feels very happy here."

Controlling emotions after the celebrations of the league title
"The players had every right to celebrate and they did so very well. From the moment they started training again, they were focused. They are a highly motivated group, full of hunger to win, they never tire and always want to win. There can be no greater motivation than to once again enter the club's history books with the 'double' and the 18th Taça de Portugal."

Whether Sporting CP are favourites
"I don't think so. We are the two best teams in the league, and each of us gets motivated in our own way. It's 50-50. We are two great teams and it's a final, which causes different emotions. There are good players for both sides and it will be a balanced game."

The future of the squad
"I'm sure that a large part of the group will stay. This has been the club's policy in recent years and the achievements show this. It's difficult to guarantee because there are clauses and things that we don't control, but I believe that, if not all, then a large part of the squad will stay for next season."

Tactics
"If you watch my games at Vitória SC, the team often played with a three-man defensive line. The formation is very relative. I didn't stray from my idea of the game, I adapted to certain behaviours regardless of the initial system. I will have more time to work on some things in a specific and rigorous way. I didn't have much time for that and that's why I say it was a big challenge for the coaching staff."