Sporting CP and FC Famalicão face off this Sunday at 8:30pm

Sporting Clube de Portugal host FC Famalicão this Sunday on Liga Portugal Matchday 22.

In his pre-match press conference, Rui Borges previewed the contest.

Facing FC Famalicão
"Above all, I expect a team that's true to themselves. They have their own style of play, and likes to maintain it throughout every game, regardless of the opponents, and they adapt well to each moment in the game.

They are a good team, very competitive, and very intense, a team that commit a lot of fouls. You can clearly see the intensity they put into the game, and their defensive organisation is also very competent.

They make a lot of moves down the flanks, a lot of one-on-one situations, and many passing  combinations. They put in a lot of crosses, looking for men in the box.

Above all, I think it's they are very competent side and one of the best teams in the league. They're having a good season, despite having a less successful result or a less successful performance here and there. Overall, they're a good team."

Attacking options
"We have tried out some solutions. Fotis [Ioannidis] is doubtful for the game. We'll see if he can contribute or not. Honestly, I still don't know who will play. But, within the available options, we will look for some individual characteristics. Of course, we will do that whilst never straying from our idea and what identifies us collectively.”

Post-Clássico reactions
"I think that we, and the media, should value the players, the teams, the game and our football much more.

I also agree that we shouldn't relativise some things that happened, because it seemed like we were going back to the last century. We are in 2026, I think we shouldn't relativise like that.

I'm not going to get into that fight. I'm much more focused on trying to value football itself, the game, the players of one team and another -not just Sporting CP, because there were great players on the field. Above all, we have to value those who play football and those who make it such a spectacular sport."

Sporting CP relying on Luis Suárez
"It's natural to think that way, because Luís has been very important and scored many goals. He manages to score thanks to a great collective effort and not just individual quality.

That's why we focus on that daily: our collective strength. And within a strong collective, individual talent comes to the fore.

It's impossible to say he isn't an important piece of our side and he will always be missed when he doesn't play. But, as I always say, only those who are there are missed. I will concentrate on the 11 I choose and the others I have on the bench. And, without a doubt, we will be competent, so as not to stray from what we have been as Sporting CP, to maintain a good quality of play, a very unique dynamic, and to defeat a good FC Famalicão side."

The performance in the Clássico
"You had two great teams; two very competent teams. There are some things we could have done differently, but not just in this game, rather in all of them. After reviewing the games, we always find things that could be different.

Above all, we had a very competent game. We played against the team with the best defence in the league. They're a team that defend very well.

Could we have done more? We could have. But we can always do that after looking back at things. Watching the game on television is always easier, as we can see things differently, but any problems were never due to a lack of ambition from anyone."

Geny Catamo's availability
"Geny is doubtful for the game."

Souleymane Faye playing in the attack
"Any forward can play up front, not just Faye. We'll try to figure out what the best option will be and what makes the most sense. But he's not the only one who can give us that solution. I think any forward can play there, and several have trained in that position."

Killing off games earlier
"That's what we all want, to score early. Sometimes we can't do that. There are two teams in the game, there are 11 players on each side, and there are competent coaches on both sides. We always want to score as quickly and early as possible, but it won't always happen.

The ambition and the team's will to win is what drives us to score in any minute of the game, whether it's the first, the second or the last. That really shows the character and personality of this team.

We want to do better, of course. If it's the 96th minute, no problem, as long as we win. We want to win, more than anything else. I understand the emotional side, but it's a football match and it's a show. That's why football is so spectacular. The emotions you create around a game are enormous and not everyone can handle them.

Above all, it's the team spirit that's really there, and the players are ambitious. They are born champions."

Trincão as an option up front
"He's clearly a player who can also play there. As I said, any forward can play as a striker. So, it doesn't worry me. They will all have different characteristics, but we'll fight, that's for sure. And we'll be competent. We'll do everything to win.

Above all, let me praise Trincão. He's always there for the team, and I've said that a lot. I think he's one of the players who has given the most for the team.

At the end of the game against FC Porto, I was asked a question [about the player's positioning in the Clássico], and I explained it a little. It's about understanding the circumstances, because being a coach from the outside is sometimes easy. You say "Oh, I would play these eleven players and I would win this game." Sure. But you need to understand many things.

Trincão was sacrificed in the last game, playing on the left, because Pedro Gonçalves is coming off an injury and physically isn't prepared for the demands of playing as a winger and defending. There are nuances that we have to understand and, without straying too far from the team's idea, try to get the best out of each player.

Trincão is someone who has already played on the left, in the middle, and on the wing. Before he was a winger. Now, if he doesn't play as a number 10, people say that's Trincão's best position. Therefore, I must highlight his ability to be committed to the team and to what the coach asks of him, for the sake of the collective, first and foremost.”

Zeno Debast's return
"Zeno is out for the game."

Competition between Hidemasa Morita and João Simões
"It's a good competition. It's part of the coach's job: to understand each player's current form as part of the strategy, depending on the opponent and what we will face, both individually and collectively.

Simões had two or three games where he wasn't at his best. Morita has emerged, again. It's a good battle, and they are two great players.

Dani [Bragança] is also coming through, improving his fitness, which is important after a long break, and gives us other solutions. He already played 10 minutes against FC Porto and was important; we ended up drawing the game with Dani already on the pitch. These are players who clearly give us several solutions and, as a coach, it gives me a headache, but I prefer to have them all available."

Geovany Quenda's return 
"I believe Quenda will be back soon. I can't say exactly when, but I believe it will be in a few weeks. At least, that's what I hope. It's another solution for this final stretch and he's clearly a very high-quality player who will help us."

Nuno Santos' return and Matheus Reis' departure
"Nuno's arrival has nothing to do with Matheus' departure. Matheus, with everything he gave to the club, everything he gave to the group, the influence he has on the group, and hom being one of the captains, with his mentality and daily competitiveness, deserved what he wanted.

He deserved, at this stage of his career, to make a decision and understand what was best for him, regardless of what the coach or the club thought.

He was an important player for us, a player who gave us a lot, especially in these last few months, with so many injuries. And for the person that he is, he deserved to be able to make that decision.

It was a good offer for him. And he deserved to make that decision, regardless of whether the coach said he wanted him until the end of the season or even that he wanted him for more seasons.

He deserved that respect for everything he gave to Sporting CP and for everything he achieved for Sporting CP, and I'm happy. I'm sad on one hand, because he was an important player, because of his energy, but happy because it's his future."

Rafael Nel
"He's been called up. He's been training with us, he's even been part of the squad available for games, and he's another option.

He trained in his position and, considering what we plan for the game, we'll see what the best starting option will be: Whether it's Nel or any other player who plays in the attacking line."

SL Benfica being level on points
"I only look ahead of us. I don't know how to be any different. Regardless of everything. I came from the bottom of the table. When I was at other clubs, I would say: I'm in sixth place, so I want to be fifth. I'm in fifth place, I want to be fourth. I'm in second place, I want to be first. My only thought is always this."