The coach previews the derby against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal host SL Benfica on Sunday on Liga Portugal Matchday 30, and before the game at the Estádio José Alvalade coach Rui Borges previewed the contest.
 
What he expects from SL Benfica
"I believe SL Benfica will be strong, with them wanting and needing to win, whether because they want to be champions or take second place. SL Benfica have had a good season and they have a good dynamic. They are a very intense team, the side that recover the most balls high up the pitch. They have the ability to press and win duels, and they are very competitive. They have a lot of dynamic movement on the wings, a lot of one-on-ones, many crosses and headed goals. All this defines the quality of SL Benfica and we expect a difficult game against them. It’s a derby between two great teams and I hope, above all, it’s a good game."

The importance of the game
"It's important for our objective. SL Benfica are a great side who are still fighting for the same goal as us. They will present us with difficulties, but we are only focused on winning. At times we won't be able to be the Sporting CP we like to be, but I believe we will be a strong Sporting CP side with great ambition and courage. The strength provided by the fans will be extremely important, even to prevent fatigue from affecting the players' minds. The team are motivated, really want to win and are focused on the objective and what we have to do for it. We have to win. We will do everything we can to achieve it."

Refereeing
"I expect a good game from a great referee who will be working at the World Cup, which demonstrates his quality. I hope he is up to the task of the derby, and of the other teams."

Morten Hjulmand's statements
"He spoke in English and everyone in England understood what he meant. In Portugal, we have to try to translate better. He only referred to Arsenal."

Objectives
"Our aim is to win, and that's all we're thinking about, especially in the fight for our goals. We understand that we're not in first place; we're second. We need and really want the three points to stay in the title race until the end, because I think it's possible."

Points being lost after leading games
"We need to be more objective and understand how we drew those games. In the two games against SC Braga, for example, we conceded penalties after the 90 minutes were up. There are things we can't control. We play against good teams and we're subject to that, but none of that detracts from the great season we're having. Whoever is in first place is having an extraordinary campaign and we have to give credit to whoever is ahead of us, but whoever is chasing will do everything to get to the top."

Belief in winning the title
"The players believe a lot and have demonstrated that. We won't always win games 3-0 or 4-1; we'll win some 1-0 and it's better to win like that than not to win. The team showed enormous character in Amadora, where we achieved a difficult victory that further validates our work. Everything we were able to do against Arsenal has to motivate us to be at the same level in domestic competitions. If we managed to do it in Europe, we have to handle it in the league, and we have been doing that, even though there are games where we haven’t always had the same freshness or intensity. In the final stretch, everything becomes a big weight on our shoulders, but as long as the ambition and energy are there, as they have been in all the games, for me things are closer to going well."

Players in doubt for the game
"Iván Fresneda and João Simões are doubts for tomorrow. (...) Nuno Santos is still out, as are Fotis Ioannidis and Luís Guilherme. I don't know if they will be available for the next game, but they are already working on the pitch already."

A possible contract renewal
"I don't focus too much on that. I don't need any vote of confidence, and what motivates me is the day-to-day work at the training ground. From day one, the confidence and energy there has been very important and define our work well. I'm very calm in that sense, and things will happen when they're meant to happen."

The strategy for the game
"I believe that whoever plays against Sporting CP will take into account that we have the best attack and that we have been strong offensively. I hope the team will be at that level tomorrow because it's something that defines us, but we're playing against a good team. Defensively, we have to have the same will and intensity to defend and continue being one of the best defences. We are a very balanced team, and I don't just look at the attack, but at all aspects of the game."