The coach responds to the defeat in Germany

Following the 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges reacted to the defeat in a press conference at the Allianz Arena.

The way the team executed the game plan
“I’m proud of the personality and courage we showed. We demonstrated great personality and maturity. In technical and tactical terms, we were fantastic: The players followed the strategy for the game perfectly, both defensively and offensively. We knew we would be in a lower block and the team were cohesive, organised and committed. We like to have the ball, but mentally we were prepared for the demands of the game in that sense. I couldn't be prouder of what the team were able to do throughout the entire game.”

The collective response to the various absences
“The players out are important to the team, but all players are important. The team gave a great response. Everyone is switched on, the players respect each other a lot as a group, and they see quality in each other.”

The impact of set pieces
“We lost the game because the only time we weren't strong was on set pieces. Two goals came from dead ball situations, and one goal was preceded by a clear foul, in my opinion. The foul was very clear, and sometimes we complain too much about our referees. I can't lament the defeat because of that. We conceded two goals from set pieces, and we have to improve that. We knew they were strong in that aspect, with a lot of blocking in the second zone; we were warned, but we fell for the trap. We have to find ways to be even better in that regard, because it defines games against these big teams. It was costly for us, but that doesn't take away from the pride I have in the team.”

The tactical approach to the game
“I even wanted Edu [Quaresma] to be more involved with the trio of centre backs, and he rarely moved around because he was always playing as a full-back. That’s what I asked him to do, and he had a great game. We had three central defenders defending, but we’ve always done that. We tried to alternate with quick balls to get out and keep possession, and we pulled Luis [Suárez] back to create runs from the full-backs inside and midfielders in the second line. I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team.”

Absences opening up opportunities for reinforcements
“I’m not going to talk about the transfer market. We have Dani [Bragança] back. I’m happy to have him returning. He has a very unique quality, and in our game plan, he can play in several positions. I think even physically he’s transformed, and I strongly believe he’ll have a good second half of the season.”

João Simões
“He has maturity beyond his years and will clearly play at a very high level. He didn't surprise me. Last year he had a great season and unfortunately got injured. This year -and I don't know if it's because of that break- he was more eager to play and maybe he didn't perform as well in preseason, but we clearly recognise his value, otherwise he wouldn't play, especially in games of this calibre. He started in Naples and had a fantastic game. He has provided a huge response.”

Ousmane Diomande and Geny Catamo featuring ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations
“We have to let them go from December 15th onwards. Those are the rules, so we can't control that. They are important players, but I'm not going to complain about their absences. I want to have everyone available, but we will be strong and today was a clear demonstration that everyone is important and prepared to play. Everyone understands the idea and believes in it. Individuals can bring different things, but the game plan is clear. We will be competent, competitive and we will continue with enormous ambition and courage, because this group deserves it. They never tire of winning, they always want more, and they want to continue showing that they can compete with the best.”

The precautions to be taken to avoid accumulated fatigue
“We do an exceptional job in managing workloads and dealing with extra fatigue. For example, today Inácio was carrying a knock from the game against Benfica and, as we are already going to lose Ousmane, we decided not to risk him. It's a worrying aspect, as we have fewer options and more players will have more consecutive minutes, so we have to find ways to keep them as fresh as possible and free from injuries. This month is going to be tough, with many games, but the players always want to play.”