The coach prepares for the game against CD Tondela

Sporting Clube de Portugal visit CD Tondela this Sunday in Liga Portugal, and coach Rui Borges previewed the match in his pre-match press conference.

CD Tondela
"They're playing at home, debuting a new pitch, and playing in front of a full house. They'll be highly motivated to face the reigning league champions. They're a team that like to have the ball, especially given the ideas of their coach [Ivo Vieira], whom I admire a lot. They like to create play, have the ball, and build attacks. In most games they have had more possession than their opponents. They're the team that create the fourth most chances and have the second most missed chances, behind Sporting CP. I watched some CD Tondela games from the first few matchdays, and they created a lot of opportunities. Them having the ‘worst attack in the division’ is deceptive; we have to be alert.”

João Simões
"He's as prepared as any other player. He's responded when the coach thinks he offers the best opportunities for us. He's responded fantastically. He had a somewhat difficult preseason, considering the ability and demands we expected. He's been developing, had his chances, and responded. He's been called up to the squad, and tomorrow we'll see if he'll be a starter. He's a star talent in every sense, and I continue to say he'll be a leader for Sporting CP in the future. I have no doubt about that. He has very unique characteristics and knows what he needs to improve on."

Post-UEFA Champions League matches
"Against Moreirense FC, we had a great game from start to finish, even if we only broke the deadlock near the end. Against SC Braga, we fell short of our expectations. Tomorrow, I believe we'll give a good response. I feel the team are in good shape, motivated, eager to have fun playing, with the responsibility inherent of the game. We know the difficulties, and changing gears is a bit difficult because against the best teams, motivation is always high. We have to connect with them in the same way playing against sides like Olympique de Marseille as we do against CD Tondela.”

Not considering the current form a bad run
"I mentioned it because I was asked. I wasn't the one who mentioned something that, for me, doesn't exist. There was one game in which we were less successful, that's all. Besides, as I said, we're not in seventh place, we're in second, three points off the top. We have six points from three games in the UEFA Champions League, and we progressed in the Taça de Portugal. The only game that's been lacking is the one against SC Braga, where we weren't the team we'd been up until that point for the full 90 minutes."

The short time between matches against CD Tondela and FC Alverca
"We take things one game at a time. I'm only thinking about CD Tondela and fielding the best team. Then, we'll see the best starting XI for the Taça da Liga. We'll certainly make a lot of changes, because it's impossible for most of the players to be fit for both games. I'm calm because it will give opportunities to players who perhaps don't get as many minutes, and need them in order to be better prepared. I'm not worried at all, and I'm solely focused on the CD Tondela game."

Ousmane Diomande
"He played a good 90 minutes in Paços de Ferreira. He's fit, available, and doing better."

Zeno Debast
"He'll be out for the next three games."