The coach reflects on the incredible showing against FK Bodø/Glimt

Following the 5-0 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal over FK Bodø/Glimt, which secured their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, Rui Borges held a press conference to talk about the success.

Accomplishing the win
"For me, it's a victory. I believed strongly and said so at the end of the game in Bodø, despite the less successful performance. The players believed and realised what we hadn't been capable of individually and collectively. We talked about what we had to do to have a historic night, and that's what happened. We're already thinking about FC Alverca now.

I believe we'll be talking about this game for many years to come, and it makes me happy to continue making history for Sporting CP. The players deserve this victory and they deserve to be praised. Maybe, after today, people will still think the coach isn't capable of managing Sporting CP. They forget that the coach was league champion and won the double. I ask for more respect. The game in Bodø didn't define what this Sporting CP team are.

I'm very positive, and today's game demonstrates that. We had to overcome a 3-0 deficit. If we had the good fortune to play this game today, it's because if there was a team capable of a comeback, it was us.

Those who doubt will continue to doubt. Let them continue to do so; the more they doubt, the more I win, and my journey speaks for itself. I think there was a lack of respect for the Sporting CP coach after our heavy defeat, which was just one loss amidst months where the team have been fantastic. This victory is an epic one and deserves respect."

How far Sporting CP can go in the UEFA Champions League
"It's about continuing to dream and believing in what we can achieve, regardless of the opposition. We won against a team that beat us 3-0 and that had five consecutive victories against teams that were contenders to win the competition. We are among the top eight sides in Europe, as had happened in the league phase."

Dedication
"It's a special victory and I dedicate it to my family. I know how much my son suffers, being young, involved in football, and loving his father. I also dedicate it to my greatest star, my grandfather."

The goal by Rafael Nel
"I was happy for him because it was another goal, because he deserved it and because the team deserved it. He was stupendous in what he provided in the space of ten minutes, demonstrating strength and the ability to press. He has worked very hard for this opportunity. It was the culmination of a dream. The team show enormous affection for those who come up from the B team and the celebration was one of joy for everything that was happening."

Intensity
"It was 120 minutes of very high intensity, which was what was required. We had to have that and we knew it. We had seen the best of FK Bodø/Glimt, but FK Bodø/Glimt hadn't seen the best Sporting CP. The team wanted to demonstrate that. It's a great and historic victory, and leaves us among the eight best sides in Europe."

Praise from the FK Bodø/Glimt coach
"I'm happy for the recognition, just as I recognised the quality of the opposition when we lost. They are a great team, and just because they lost 5-0 today doesn't mean they've ceased to be that. It only makes our comeback even more meritworthy. I'm very proud of my players, who deserve this praise more than anyone."

The perfect game
"Clearly it was, otherwise we wouldn't have eliminated FK Bodø/Glimt. I said it had to be a perfect and extraordinary game, and that's what happened. The team didn't lose our composure or strategy, and they didn't panic. I asked them to do that at halftime: Not to think about the comeback, but about the 2-0 scoreline."

The fans
"There are no words to describe Alvalade today. From the moment I stepped onto the pitch, you could feel it was going to be different. They were extraordinary. They've been very good, but we need them like this all the time. If there was a stadium where this was going to be possible, it was here."

FK Bodø/Glimt
"They are a great team defensively, one of the best in Europe. They were playing against one of the best attacking teams in Europe, in Sporting CP."