The coach talks before the Liga Portugal closer

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Gil Vicente FC on Saturday at 8:30 PM, on the 34th and final Matchday of the Liga Portugal season. Coach Rui Borges previewed the match in his press conference and stressed the importance of his team finishing the league campaign in second place.

Playing the last home game of the season
“Above all, let me first highlight the sellout crowd we’ll have tomorrow. It's a sign that they are behind us and that they want to give us that extra strength that has been so important throughout the season -and that will be very important tomorrow if we are to defeat Gil Vicente FC.”

What he expects from Gil Vicente FC
"Gil Vicente FC are a good side who are having an excellent season and are still fighting for European football, so that clearly indicates the difficulty we face. That’s in addition to the team itself, the collective. They are a very well-organised side, a very cohesive unit; sometimes they use high-pressing, with good timing and good triggers, and are very competitive and cohesive when activated. They are a team who give little to their opponents and are extremely strong on offensive set pieces, so that clearly indicates the difficulty we face in tomorrow's game. That's why I started by saying it was important to have a full stadium, so the group could feel that good energy. At the end of a season which has been quite intense at all levels, we need them to help us."

Competing for second place
"I want us to finish in second place. My team and I want to be competent enough to beat a good team who are having a great season. It will be a very competitive, very intense game that will demand the best from us. I’m very focused on tomorrow's game, which is very important and still gives us a lot to work towards. We haven't achieved our main objective yet, which is to be second so we can qualify for the best club competition in Europe."

The transfer market
“I won’t comment on the transfer market, because if we had all of the players linked to us, we would already have two teams for next season. It’s not the time to talk about the transfer market, but rather to focus on tomorrow’s game, which could give us a place in the UEFA Champions League. That’s what we really want and that has to be our only focus at the moment. Regarding farewells for players, there’s the farewell of [Hidemasa] Morita, who everyone knows is out of contract and will be us saying goodbye to a player who made his mark on the history of Sporting CP and on all of us personally.”

Self-critical analysis
“I’m focused on being competent. I know I wasn’t competent in some games and that I didn’t win the title because of that. That’s what I know. It has a lot to do with solutions I can find for my team to become better. I'm focused on being better and better. I want to be a better coach, more competent and win the title, which is our great objective as coaches, as a team, as players, and we didn't manage to achieve it. We didn't manage to achieve it because at some moments we weren't as competent as we wanted to be. That's all."

Sporting CP’s season
"The only thing that bothers us is that we weren't able to be league champions, and next season we have to be better than we were this year. That's what we're focused on. We really want to win the Taça de Portugal. I'm more concerned with what we were capable of and what we weren't capable of at certain moments."

The game against Gil Vicente FC last season at Alvalade
"Gil Vicente FC's desire has been demonstrated throughout the season, hence the great campaign they are having. It’s credit to their coach and players, and tomorrow they still be the Gil Vicente FC that they have been up until now. They are a team that like to have possession and have a well-defined process, are very strong in one-on-one situations and on the flanks, and are very strong with their crossing. They are one of the most effective teams in crossing areas, and a team that score goals from outside the box as well. I believe Gil Vicente FC will be in great form tomorrow, especially since they are still aiming for European competitions and will do everything to achieve it their target -just as we are focused on ours. It was good last year for us to win in the penultimate minute against Gil Vicente FC, but we haven’t talked about last season with the players. We did talk about the game we had this season in Barcelos and we analysed it in the best way possible."

How the team could have improved
"We didn't just drop points in one game, so it's not just in one game that I could have done better. I could have done better in any game I didn't win, because if we didn't win it's because we weren't good enough or we weren't better than the opposition. We have to do our job, analyse things in the best way possible and grow as coaches, as a team, so that we drop fewer and fewer points."

Vagiannidis' availability
"He is a doubt for tomorrow's game. Zeno [Debast] is out, but Morten [Hjulmand] has started training on the pitch."

The games against Gil Vicente FC and SCU Torreense defining Sporting CP's season
"These are two important games that dictate a lot, and we have to have that responsibility, that understanding. It’s the difference between playing in the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League, and the possibility of winning a trophy. It's much more about that than thinking about whether it dictates what the season was like.”

Future national team call-ups and Sporting CP players
"We would all name a different squad; nobody would name the same squad twice either. My players always deserve it, they had a good season. I'm not going to get into the perspective of who should be called up or not, or which players will or will not be included. I do know, however, that those who have been called up for Portugal have had a great season, and I strongly believe that they will continue to be part of the national team setup."

The coach talks about the 1-4 win over Rio Ave FC

Following the victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal over Rio Ave FC, coach Rui Borges attended the press conference in Vila do Conde and answered questions from journalists.

Analysis of the game
"It was a difficult victory. We had a tough first half, in which we conceded a goal very early. We knew what Rio Ave FC do well, because they have the players to do it. They play direct balls to their target men and, when they can't do that, they are very active on second balls. That happened throughout the first half. We had to take that risk. We lost some duels, which made it difficult, but we managed to improve towards the end of the first half. We scored the goal and were lucky with the second. The second half was uneventful, but it was all Sporting CP. We controlled the game, sometimes with slower ball movement but always focused, which was important. Even when a man down, Rio Ave FC are dangerous, because they are a very strong team in terms of fitness.”

Finishing second
"The group are happy because we were able to win again. Of course, then there's the added bonus of us moving into second again, but there's still one matchday. We need the support of our fans at home, which has been crucial throughout the season -even away from home. Gil Vicente FC will make our task difficult.”

Refereeing
"I don't comment on refereeing. The decisions were made this way and I believe they were judged correctly."

The team's current form
"Getting back into second place brings some motivation and tranquility for us. Having lost the opportunity to continue fighting for the title, and then losing second place, was difficult, but we managed to overcome that. It's important that we only depend on ourselves to secure second place in the last weekend of the season. I hope the players are even more motivated for the difficulty of the last game."

Zeno Debast and Georgios Vagiannidis
"Both were injured in training and are under evaluation. I can't give much more information. I believe we will have more news in the coming days."

The Taça de Portugal final
"Finishing second has to cross everyone's minds. The team breathes a little differently, but we have a difficult game, even though it's at home." "The energy in all the teams isn't at 100%, but I believe the group's motivation is high enough for us to finish in second place."

Ousmane Diomande's fifth yellow card
"There are two central defenders left for us, it's not hard to guess who will play in his place. Who will play on the right? We'll find a solution."

The team triumph 1-4 on the road

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated Rio Ave FC 1-4 on the penultimate matchday of the Liga Portugal season, returning to second place in the standings and leaving their fate in their own hands in the race for the runner-up spot.

There were two changes to the starting lineup, with Ousmane Diomande and Luís Guilherme replacing Zeno Debast and Geny Catamo.

Rio Ave FC started out sharpest in Vila do Conde. Just two minutes in, their first attempt on goal came from Dario Špikić, with his shot being turned out for a corner. Shortly after, Tamble Monteiro created a much more serious threat with a header, narrowly missing the target.

In response, Francisco Trincão found Pedro Gonçalves with a beautiful pass, and he aimed for goal and came very close to scoring.

On 10 minutes, another shot from Tamble Monteiro went wide.

Rio Ave FC's strong start resulted in a 1-0 lead within the first quarter of an hour. Diogo Bezerra finished off a counter-attack initiated by a loss of possession by Rui Borges' men, and gave his side the advantage.

Sporting CP began to work harder to dominate the game and create more danger in the opposition area. In the 17th minute, Luis Suárez tried for the equalizer, but his effort lacked accuracy.

The striker managed to win a penalty in the 33rd minute, when brought down in the area by Petrasso. He stepped up to convert, taking Sporting CP back level.

In bizarre circumstances, the visitors made it 1-2: Gustavo Mancha attempted a pass to goalkeeper Cezary Miszta, but the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Suárez came close to a second goal when he met Maxi Araújo's cross with a subtle finish that was just centimetres from hitting the target. At the other end, Rio Ave FC could have equalised before the interval, first with a shot from Tamble Monteiro saved by Rui Silva with his foot, then with a hit from Dario Špikić into the side netting.

The second half was much more convincing for Sporting CP, even without a brilliant performance from them. In the 52nd minute, Petrasso fouled Suárez near the penalty area, receiving his second yellow card and reducing Rio Ave FC to ten men. In the ensuing free kick, Gonçalves' shot was saved by Miszta.

With a numerical advantage, Sporting CP exerted more control and created more opportunities. In the 63rd minute, Luis Suárez almost scored on two occasions, but the ball went slightly wide of the post.

Geny Catamo and Geovany Quenda replaced Luís Guilherme and Hidemasa Morita to change things up for Sporting CP.

In the 66th minute, the scoreline moved to 1-3, thanks to a great move by Trincão, who cut in from the right and, from outside the area, struck into the back of the net.

The third Sporting CP goal effectively killed the game off, as it lost much of its intensity. In the final ten minutes, Pedro Gonçalves and Daniel Bragança were replaced by Eduardo Felicíssimo – playing his first minutes for the first team in 2025/26 – and Giorgi Kochorashvili.

In the 85th minute there was another sending off for Rio Ave FC, as Ryan Guilherme also received a red card after two bookings.

Against only nine players, Sporting CP sealed the victory with a goal from Quenda, who had recovered the ball at the start of the play and finished confidently. It was the 19-year-old's first goal since November.

Following the 1-4 win, Sporting CP have one final game in Liga Portugal, hosting Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade on the last day of the season.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio [C], Maxi Araújo, Hidemasa Morita (Geovany Quenda, 65'), Daniel Bragança (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 82'), Luís Guilherme (Geny Catamo, 65'), Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves (Eduardo Felicíssimo, 82') and Luis Suárez (Rafael Nel, 90+1')

The coach previews the game against Rio Ave FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal travels to Vila do Conde this Monday to, where they will face Rio Ave FC on the penultimate matchday in Liga Portugal.

Coach Rui Borges spoke to journalists in his press conference before the game.

Analysis of Rio Ave FC
“Above all, we have to be a Sporting CP side that demand a lot from ourselves. We need to understand that we are still fighting for second place, we have three games left to finish the season and a Taça de Portugal final to play. It is very important to create this individual demand to overcome a Rio Ave FC who, despite not having achieved the best results in recent games, have had a very good second half of the season.

They are a team with their place in the league guaranteed for next season, who have nothing to lose, and who added good players in the January transfer window -players who have given them growth both defensively and offensively. They are a very strong team on the counter-attack, very physical and competitive.

We will certainly have difficulties. Personally, I have really enjoyed watching Rio Ave FC in many games, because they have clearly improved compared to the first half of the season. A difficult game awaits us, but I repeat: We have to create individual and collective demands of ourselves at the end of this season, especially since we still have objectives to achieve.”

The transfer market
“In recent days, there’s been more talk about the transfer market than anything else. I’m not going to talk about players from other clubs. I have three games ahead of me and I’m competing for clear objectives. It seems like we’re in June or July; it doesn’t make sense to give my opinion on any players now, because I’m very focused on our objective.

It’s natural that people ask, but these are players who are at other clubs and we don’t know what the future holds regarding departures, let alone arrivals. Personally, I’m very focused on the last three games, which still have a lot at stake, and we can’t let our guard down. We’ve already let our guard down enough. I’m focused on what we have to achieve.”

Leadership challenges in a dressing room
“At big clubs, the difficulty is very much linked to the daily management of so many human beings. It’s not just players, but staff and everything involved in a football club. Knowing how to manage the egos of players with careers that speak for themselves is sometimes quite difficult. (…)

That's why I say so often that the greatest boost a coach can have is to look at the group and feel that everyone respects each other and sees quality in each other. Each player, in their own way, adds something, and everyone believes in everyone else's potential. Nobody stands out above the rest or tries to do so. As Sporting CP, I am fortunate to have a group that respects each other a lot. This is very important and also part of the coaching staff's job.

In technical terms, there are many good coaches, but gaining the respect of the players, getting them to believe and getting them onside is the great difficulty for a coach today. Sometimes, and it's part of the process, it's not possible to do it.”

Analysis of Diogo Travassos' season
“He's had a great season and everything indicates that he will have to come back to Sporting CP at the beginning of next season. He’s had a season with goals and assists, many games on the wing -a position that isn't his natural one. He’s enjoyed two very good seasons in the Primeira Liga, which is important for gaining consistency. He has that ability to earn the right to be with us.”

Daniel Bragança's contract renewal
“Dani is a captain, a leader, important to the group, and has a contract with Sporting CP. His renewal doesn't depend solely on the coach. There's the board and the player too, many factors have to combine.

For now, he's a player that we all like and that we want to have in the squad. We're planning to have him for next season, it’s as simple as that. Regarding any renewal: In due time, we'll see if it happens or not.”

Managing transfer rumours with objectives until the end of the season
“We’re demanding accountability, focus, rigour, professionalism. In these last 15 days, the biggest difficulty is keeping a team that were fighting for everything and know that they can no longer be champions motivated. In a phase of great mental exhaustion -even more than physical-, keeping them at the same pace and with the same rigour is a big challenge.

It’s natural that motivation has dropped a little after those less positive results. I am also worn out from so many press conferences and so much travel. As much as we like our jobs, it’s been many months at a maximum level of demand and it's natural that, not being able to change our main objective, they feel the fatigue.

Second place is extremely important to us and they know that. It’s difficult for them to feel at 100% in terms of energy. I don't know if it's possible, but it has to be close, at least, for us to still achieve our goals.”

Attention to fitness in future signings
“We always pay attention to the physical aspect in relation to any signing. They are all studied in depth and perhaps that is even the first parameter. But there are things we don't control, it's impossible. I believe that in the future, clubs may have 50 players, given the number of games.

Given the trauma injuries we’ve had, we were left cast adrift at decisive moments, but Sporting CP do not have the financial capacity to have 50 players of the same level. What we can control is that all the physical data of any player who enters the club is thoroughly examined right from the start.”

His future squad
“It's natural that qualifying for the UEFA Champions League could change something, because the financial aspect plays a part and you can't escape that. But whether we make a revolution or not, it’s something that the market will dictate. We have all the current players, except for [Hidemasa] Morita, under contract. There are players who may want to take a different direction in their careers, but they won't leave just like that. Everyone has a buyout clause, so the market will dictate what happens.

We have a squad defined in my image, which will adjust as players leave, be it in one position or another. We are always attentive and cautious, thanks to the work done by the scouting department.”

for my club" The attacker reflects on his appearance achievement

Francisco Trincão has reached 200 games for Sporting Clube de Portugal. To mark the milestone, the number 17 spoke to the club's media and expressed his pride in continuing his legacy at Alvalade.

His feelings about reaching 200 games
"It's a great privilege to be able to play 200 games for my club. Above all, I'm happy to help in any way I can."

Being part of Sporting CP's history
"Since I was little, I've always dreamed of being part of this club and, besides that, winning is always good, so I'm very happy."

The trophies he has won at the club
"It makes me want to win more and do better, because the feeling is always great. Now, it's about continuing the project and winning more trophies."

Wearing the captain's armband
"It’s excellent. It's also a sign that the team believe in me, so it's a good feeling."

The responsibility when representing Sporting CP
"It's enormous. Not only within the group, inside the training ground and at Alvalade, but also because of the fans. We know what we represent to many people, so we always have to give our best and perform at the maximum."

An important person throughout these 200 games
"I have to say everyone who helps me every day, everyone who has been at the training ground or at the stadium, and who is part of the group and the staff. I can't single out one specific person."

September 7th, 2022
"That was the date of my first goal. I remember it was in the UEFA Champions League, 0-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt and it was a good goal."

A goal that sticks in his memory
"I would say, perhaps, the one in the final of the Taça da Liga [2024/25]."

His Top 3 best moments at Sporting CP
"The two league titles and the Taça da Liga.”

His most special game to date
"There are many, but perhaps the game against Vitória SC where we became two-time champions. I think that's the one that made the biggest impact on me."

Playing in the UEFA Champions League
"It's great. It's the biggest club competition and, therefore, it's a huge honour to be able to play in it. It's a great feeling."

The team’s unity
"It's always been like this and everyone knows that the dressing room has always been one of the main sources of the club’s success."

The importance of Sporting CP in his life
"It’s enormous. Coming here has helped me completely and, therefore, it means everything."

His connection to the club
"I’ve had it since I was little. My childhood friends know this, because I always talked about Sporting CP. Now I'm here and it's a huge source of pride."

Evolution and versatility in the attack
"It also depends a lot on my teammates and the team, and I think we all understand each other well. Whether I play in one position or another also has a lot to do with what the coach says and the understanding between the players. When you have good players alongside you, it's always easier."

His consistency after 88 league appearances
"It has to do with the day-to-day work I do, the way I live my life and how I try to take care of myself, in addition to all the help we have from the club. It has to do with what you daily, in training, with your rest and in nutrition. It all comes from these factors together. I am lucky to have good genetics, and for that I have to thank my parents."

Finishing the season as top assist provider
"That’s not the objective for me; the aim is to help the team. If you do that with goals and assists it's always better, but you can also do it in other aspects, because the game isn't just about that."

The Estádio José Alvalade
"It’s always a fortress, but it’s not only like that at home. I feel like we are always playing at home, even on away trips, but of course the support we always have at the stadium makes all the difference."

What sets Sporting CP apart
"It's the mystique. It's a different club because of its history and everything it has been through and all that we continue to win -not only in football but in all sports. I think the club have a different mystique and that's what makes it unique."

Fan support
"Everyone has always treated me well, it's a source of pride, and it's always great that people recognise the work I've been doing. I can only be grateful."

The fans' passion
"The second title celebration at Marquês was even better than the first, so I think people continue to embrace what this team have been doing. It's been getting better and better."

Message to Sporting CP fans
"I just want them to keep supporting us, so we can feel what we've felt until now. They should expect the best from us, because we will always give everything for the club."

Goals still to be achieved at Sporting CP
"Another 200 games."

The coach reviews the 5-1 win over Vitória SC

At the end of the match against Vitória SC, Rui Borges, analysed the resounding victory in his press conference.

General analysis of the team's performance
“We started out a bit nervous, but from our first few scoring opportunities we scored two goals. After that, we grew, gained confidence, created clear chances and scored goals. It ended up being a fair result, considering the opportunities we had. The team demonstrated our quality and returned to our normal competitive spirit and mentality. We had a great game.”

Eduardo Quaresma's 100th game for the club
“It signifies his growth at this club and increased consistency. He has played a lot of games with quantity and, above all, with quality. He has grown in this aspect, I am happy to see him reach this milestone, and he will help Sporting CP a lot in the future.”

Daniel Bragança
“He has a contract with Sporting CP and is happy here, as demonstrated on the pitch. He knows very well the complete confidence he has from the coach and also from the structure.”

The fight for second place
“I’m focused on winning our games, doing our part to be able to finish in second place. That is my focus, and then we have the cup final, in which we really want to win that trophy. Whether it's first, second or third place, all places are earned with merit.”

From initial unease to gained confidence
“I think in the first ten minutes you could see that the team were a little tense. Then we gained confidence and, from the time it was 2-0 onwards, we grew. The team became more comfortable and this was also noticeable individually. Maxi, for example, didn't start very well, but he improved and ended up playing a great game. We created several opportunities with quality and with the confidence we gained. We were coming into this one from two games that weren't good on our part and that ended up affecting us, which is natural. We improved and had a good game.”

Substitutions of Morita and Geny Catamo
“They were both feeling a little uncomfortable and, therefore, we took them off.”

The impact of Gonçalo Inácio's return
“As I said about Dani, Inácio wanted to be with the team, and that shows what a leader he is. He knew it wasn't the team's best time of the season, and him wanting to rush back speaks well of my captains. He had a great game; he came off because he was feeling discomfort, but his resilience is commendable.”

The possible return of Fotis Ioannidis soon
“I hope we see him before the end of the season, even if it's in the last game or the cup final. It’s difficult though, a bit like with Morten [Hjulmand].”

His recurring use of a midfield duo in Hjulmand's absence
“Morita had a great season, and Daniel Bragança has too since he came back. They give us a lot of quality with the ball and are the players who are in the best form. They never shy away from the ball or the game, even under pressure, and they pass that confidence on to the team.”

Importance of having weeks to train again
“It’s very, very important. We’re entering these last three weeks of the season, which will be normal weeks with one game every 6-7 days, and I hope the team show a different energy -the energy we’ve shown throughout the season. Time off is important, being able to breathe, be with family… We’re at the end of the season, everything is tiring and, therefore, the next few weeks help.”

Words from Hjulmand in a video posted by Sporting CP
“That was very important. He’s our captain, he also feels bad about not being able to be with the group and thought he could help this way -not only for the group but also for the fans. These 15 days don’t erase the fantastic months they’ve had so far.”

Os Leões win 5-1 against Vitória SC

Sporting CP beat Vitória SC 5-1 at the Estádio José Alvalade on Liga Portugal Matchday 22, with goals from Gonçalo Inácio, Daniel Bragança, Maxi Araújo, Luis Suárez and Luís Guilherme. The win allowed them to take advantage of their direct rival SL Benfica's draw in Vila Nova de Famalicão to close the points gap in the standings.

To face the seventh-placed team in the division, on a run of two consecutive victories and a total of four games unbeaten, coach Rui Borges made two changes to the starting XI fielded against CD Tondela: Inácio – after two games out due to injury – returned, Francisco Trincão also came back into the starting lineup, and Georgios Vagiannidis and Geovany Quenda were moved onto the bench.

Once the match began, Vitória SC took control and even had the first shot on target, but Sporting CP’s training ground work paid off to make it 1-0 after just nine minutes: Pedro Gonçalves took a free kick from the edge of the box, chipped the ball towards the far post for Luis Suárez, and he tapped it into the area for the unmarked Gonçalo Inácio to head in.

In the 24th minute, the second goal came with maximum efficiency. Trincão, Suárez, and Hidemasa Morita combined with a series of first-touch passes on the volley, and the Japanese player masterfully set up Daniel Bragança. His finish was also excellent, as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper in a well-executed one-on-one.

Less than ten minutes later, the scoreline could have been increased, as Bragança had a great chance, but he slammed the ball into the goal after skillfully taking two opposition defenders out of the equation. Trincão then tried to chip Charles again and saw the ball go just wide of the post.

At the other end, Rui Silva had to make two saves from venomous shots by Miguel Nogueira from the right flank.

Os Leões responded immediately with a quick transition, although Suárez couldn't finish off the high-speed counter-attack led by Geny Catamo.

The space left at the back by Vitória SC remained vulnerable and Sporting CP took advantage to make it 3-0 in stoppage time. Zeno Debast found Maxi Araújo unmarked in the central channel and the Uruguayan managed to beat the last defender before finishing well. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but with the help of VAR the decision was reversed.

The restart after the interval saw Luís Guilherme replace Morita. Vitória SC had the first clear goalscoring opportunity, wasted by Diogo Sousa when he was one-on-one with Rui Silva.

Moments later, it was the league's top scorer, Luis Suárez, who kept things on track. Picked out by 'Pote', he finished calmly to increase the advantage to 4-0 with his 26th goal in the competition.

The second half saw better control from Sporting CP, with sporadic chances in addition. In the 74th minute, Suárez switched from finisher to assist provider, serving up the fifth goal for the returning Luís Guilherme.

Nuno Santos, Geovany Quenda and Giorgi Kochorashvili, plus Ousmane Diomande, were brought on by Rui Borges for a phase of the match that ended up being largely uneventful.

Suárez was very close to scoring with a header only being denied by Charles’ full stretch save. However, it was Vitória SC who were fortunate to score a consolation goal in the 85th minute -a bizarre own goal by Zeno Debast when trying to pass the ball back to Rui Silva.

Sporting CP continue their pursuit of second place in Liga Portugal and access to the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff. In the next round, the penultimate matchday of the season, they travel to Vila do Conde to face Rio Ave FC.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio [C] (Ousmane Diomande, 82’), Maxi Araújo, Hidemasa Morita (Luís Guilherme, 46’), Daniel Bragança, Pedro Gonçalves (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 78’), Geny Catamo (Nuno Santos, 70’), Francisco Trincão (Geovany Quenda, 78’), Luis Suárez.

The coach looks at the game against Vitória SC

Sporting CP coach Rui Borges chatted to the media in a pre-match press conference, ahead of the game against Vitória SC this Monday at 8:15pm.

The match against Vitória SC
"First of all, congratulations to FC Porto for winning the Liga Portugal title. It’s well deserved, because they ended up being the most consistent team throughout the season. Regarding Vitória SC and the game, Gil [Lameiras] is a young coach who is in a very good upward phase and above all, is progressing in a very sustained way. He is taking the steps he wants, with all his quality. I admire him very much.

We expect a difficult game, against a team who are motivated. They won their last game away in Barcelos, against a good side that are having an excellent season. All these motivational factors lead to Vitória SC, I believe, being audacious in their attack, within their usual style of play. They are a team that, offensively, rely heavily on wingers -they are the team that crosses the most in the league. They have a lot of one-on-one situations, very strong wingers in that regard. They set themselves up, depending on the area of the pitch, in a low block, which ends up organising itself in a 5-4-1 formation in a more medium-high block. That moves into a 4-4-2 defensively. Vitória SC are a great team, always demanding the maximum from you in any game, so we expect a difficult match, but at home, we really want to get back to winning ways."

Physical and psychological fatigue
"I'm not justifying the results, but it exists. Now, it's not a justification. We always have to want to do better, we always have to find ways to be better and to be competitive, and never make excuses for anything. We should have been more competent. Mental fatigue exists, but it's not an excuse. I'm not lucky or unlucky, and we could have been more competent in the latter stages, especially [against CD Tondela]. There is mental fatigue because of everything that has happened in the season, because of all the games, because of all the demands, because of everything that has happened to us, it's part of football. We have to deal with it. It's up to us coaches and players to react to it.."

Confidence in the fight for second place
"I'm confident by nature, it has nothing to do with the SL Benfica game [on Saturday], or not. Regardless of the SL Benfica result, we still don't have our fate in our hands, so I'm much more focused on us becoming a more competitive Sporting CP again, with more quality of play, and winning, which is what we really want. Winning our games, doing everything to win them, understanding how we can improve in these last games, in these last rounds, trying to keep them focused, because there's a trophy to play for [the Taça de Portugal]. We’re focused and above all motivated for this final stretch of the season.

There's a mental weight on everyone’s shoulders, and suddenly we've fallen short of those objectives we had. It's natural that it has affected us in some way. We have to bounce back, so I say that the last few weeks don't reflect what the whole season has been like for this group -the excellent season they're having. It doesn't erase anything that we did. I'm incredibly proud of what they've achieved; now we have to stabilise things. Regardless of the other teams, we have to focus on our game at home."

Goals conceded in the last 15 minutes of games
"It's something we have to try to understand how we can improve. It has a lot to do with the games, a lot to do with the moments, a lot to do with the current results. It's difficult to explain sometimes, even when we're looking at the whole picture. If we're winning 3-0, it's natural that we concede. If the team are more switched off because we're winning 3-0, then there are things we can't control. There are goals conceded due to our own actions, even individual ones, that we don't control. They are momentary, they are instincts where we were punished: In the two games against SC Braga, for example. It’s natural that at some point we might concede a goal, but more than that, we should realise that we have the second-best defence in the league, with the same number of goals conceded as SL Benfica.”

This season's squad composition for so many competitions
"It depends on how we look at things and the interpretation we make. It's not about minimising things. It has a lot to do with the financial capacity of Portuguese teams to have squads at the level of the best clubs in Europe and the world, who fight for these competitions. Arsenal have five times our budget. We will never be able to match even a quarter or a third of that financial capacity, so our squad – or that of any Portuguese team, however big they may be – will never have the capacity to match the best teams in the world. Now, in our own way, we were very competent, we did a lot, we made all Sporting CP fans and the club we represent proud.”

Players with injuries
"Geny is fine, Gonçalo Inácio is doing much better, and he could still play this season. [Morten] Hjulmand’s situation is difficult."

The coach's extension is officially announced in the VIP Hall at the Estádio José Alvalade

Sporting Clube de Portugal and Rui Borges have reached an agreement for the extension of the coach’s contract, keeping him in charge of the first team until 2028. The 44-year-old's renewal was officially announced this Friday in the VIP Hall at the Estádio José Alvalade, in a ceremony attended by his family, the coaching staff, and the rest of the Sporting CP structure.

Borges took over as Sporting CP's head coach midway through the 2024/25 season – signing on December 26, 2024 – and managed to lead the team to a memorable 'double' of the Liga Portugal title and Taça de Portugal. In the present season, he took them to their best-ever UEFA Champions League campaign – ending in the quarter-finals – and to the final of the Taça de Portugal.

“Rui Borges and his coaching staff have been at Sporting CP for around 16 months. Some put high value on the results of the last 15 days, while others highly value the work of the first 15 and a half months, the back-to-back titles, the double, the best European campaign in our history, or the record for consecutive wins at Alvalade. Some also focus on the fact that we haven't won more trophies this season, having lost the Supertaça and Taça da Liga finals. We, the Board, value above all the work done, much more than the results, the trophies, or the finals we’ve lost,” stated President Frederico Varandas at the event.

“Regardless of the trophies won and lost, the process undertaken is the most decisive criterion for us to continue believing that Sporting CP have a future, being where we should be: competing for trophies,” he said, also highlighting Rui Borges' “behaviour and human side.”

“He is a serious man, intellectually honest, free thinking, who protects his own and -something I value very much-, communicates using his head. We value all of that and, therefore, he will continue to be the coach of Sporting CP,” Varandas added.

Moving on to answer questions from the journalists present, the president addressed the renewal process.

“Sporting CP make decisions based on convictions and believing in work processes. We have no doubt that the coach is the right man for the job.”

Regarding the expectations for the future, the president outlined a clear objective: “to continue in the fight for trophies and in the title races. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. We have won more than we have lost, and what we want is to be in the finals, as we were this year. These gentlemen -and the great group of players we have had- have raised the bar for Sporting CP. I don't forget that this is the most successful group in the last 70 years of the club,” he highlighted.

Finally, when questioned about what went wrong in the pursuit of a third consecutive league title, he considered that “the failure to do that was the result of the success of this season on all fronts. In seven days we had three games, against Arsenal, SL Benfica and FC Porto, of unique difficulty. Am I going to condemn my coach and my players for believing it was possible to reach the Champions League semi-finals? Even more so, for playing two games against the Premier League leaders, a team with six times our budget? We were fighting for that qualification until the very last second. I think that would be very unfair.”

“The competitive demand on this squad was huge. Nowadays, with the new competition model, the Champions League is a huge step up from the UEFA Europa League. Credit to our rival, because they intelligently understood their abilities and limitations and were only playing for one trophy.”

After the joint photograph of the president and coach next to the mythical Gate 10 A, Rui Borges also made statements of his own, initially emphasizing the “great pride and satisfaction” that this contract renewal represents after 81 games leading the team.

“As the president said, everything that defines this coaching staff is encapsulated by the word 'work,' so it's a sign that our efforts are recognised, and that makes us very happy. It's a continuation of the commitment, rigour, and enormous ambition to, above all, make history at Sporting CP -and that in the future we feel honoured to have been here,” he stated.

“I’m very happy at Sporting CP and I will continue to be so, because here our day-to-day life is very honest and happy.”

Looking ahead to the new chapter in his tenure, Borges says that he aims to “work harder and better, with an ambition equal to that which we brought on the first day. Every day that passes, we learn from the good and the not-so-good things that we’ve done, and it’s up to us to work hard. We are where we want to be, thanks to our journey. We are fortunate.”

“Sporting CP, regardless of who the coach is, will always have very good professionals to honour the club and compete in everything they are involved in. We can still finish second in Liga Portugal, and that’s what we’re focused on. In my mind is the next game against Vitória SC, in which we want to continue fighting for second place and achieve access to the UEFA Champions League, and then we will focus on winning the Taça de Portugal,” he said.

“Sporting CP have their path, with a purpose and sustained growth, and that’s how it will continue to be,” guaranteed Borges.

The coach looks at the rescheduled Liga Portugal game

Rui Borges is looking "optimistically" at the final stretch of the season, despite all the difficulties that face Sporting CP is they are to defend their Liga Portugal title. In the press conference before the match against CD Tondela, which will be played this Wednesday, he fielded questions from the media.

The match against CD Tondela
"We have to focus and do everything to win the game, at home, against a team that need points and that, despite everything, have been quite bold in their strategy and have tried to gain more prominence in the game with their new coach,. They press very high at many points of the game, they leave themselves exposed in the process, and that boldness is praiseworthy. They’re a team that will give their all for the points, but we also have to do that because we need them. We need to win to match the points of the second-placed team.

We no longer have our fate in our hands, but we have to do our part. It’s a difficult game, with one team fighting for one objective, the other for another. Regardless of individual and collective quality, in those moments there is always an extra attitude, and we have to have it, especially in the mental aspect, which helps everything else: the physical aspect, the strategy. The players are aware of the responsibility and what we have to do: Have a good game to defeat CD Tondela.

The starting XI in Vila das Aves
"This goes far beyond choosing eleven to play. Choosing 'the best' side is relative. Against AVS Futebol SAD it was impossible to do that. This coach has a great connection with the players, and he listens to what they say, what they talk about, what they feel. At this stage, there's almost no strategy, it’s just about keeping them as fresh as possible. For this game, there were players who weren't able to contribute 100% for 60, 70, 80 minutes, and after some dialogue, those were the options.

But that's not why we didn't win. We did a lot, we did more than enough to win the game, but we didn't score. It had nothing to do with the coach's choices. The players are exhausted; no matter how much they want to play, their bodies don't respond in the same way. Therefore, throughout the last few games, the choices were always made collectively."

Mental fatigue’s impact on the decision
"The wear and tear is clearly physical, but predominantely mental. The mental aspect improves or worsens the physical side, and in that regard it has been enormous: the elimination from the UEFA Champions League, with the feeling that we could have made even more history, naturally affects the players. Immediately afterwards we had the game against SL Benfica, where one second we were about to be winning and the next we were losing. Feelings end up affecting the players, no matter how much we say they don't. Right after that we had to go to the Estádio do Dragão to fight to make a final, and the demands of the games have been huge. I don't like to talk about luck, as it has to do with random schedules, but we didn't have good fortune: we had four consecutive games of the highest level of demand, which pushed us to a mental and physical limit.”

His potential contract renewal
"I’m happy. I'm at a great club. These last few weeks, unfortunately, have taken us out of the fight for the third consecutive title. There's no escaping that, even if mathematically it's possible. But we stick with every decision until the end, and that's what dictates whether a job is good.

Above all, there's an everyday feeling of confidence. The path is well-defined, and everyone's work is very well done. We always want to win; unfortunately, we won't be able to, but then the responsibility will always fall on the coach, and I will never let the blame fall on my players. They have been fantastic, they have given everything, and they deserve all the praise."

Injuries throughout the season
"It's not a normal amount, of course. There are things we don't control. If we had had 18 muscle injuries, then yes, we would have to rethink all the work that is being done, but that's not what happened. At the beginning of the season, we had the Taça da Liga, Taça de Portugal, and league games where we managed to get everyone playing and rotate, but at the most important moment of the season we couldn't do that because we had very important players out, like Geovany Quenda, Fotis Ioannidis, and Pedro Gonçalves -players who provide more solutions and whom we lost for some time.

That's football. We couldn't control traumatic injuries, and we had all sorts of those. Muscle injuries always exist, at Sporting CP and at any team in the world. If we compare the numbers they're pretty much the same this season. Now, at this stage, we knew we ran the risk of having more muscle injuries, because the workload was enormous. In that aspect, we didn't have more injuries than other teams.

We had more trauma injuries, but we don't control them. It affected our squad management, of course -there's no escaping that. I’ll say it again: The players gave their all and there's no pointing the finger at them."

The January transfer window
"Sporting CP have a squad of 28 or 29 players, plus those on the B team. If at the beginning we had guessed that there would be ten players out, with injuries that we don't control, we would have done something about it, but there are things we don't know beforehand. We would have to have a squad of 50 players for that. Maybe that's what will happen in the future, as the demands of the schedule is surreal.

We had a balanced squad in all positions. It wasn't because of the January transfer window. We knew we could lose Alisson [Santos], we added two players with a perspective for the future, and with Matheus [Reis] it was a specific situation. We had players out injured for longer, which nobody expects."

Options for the game against CD Tondela
"Georgios Vagiannidis, Ousmane Diomande and Dani Bragança are doubts. That's three more players. They have some knocks. Ivan Fresneda, Fotis Ioannidis, Gonçalo Inácio and Morten Hjulmand are also out.

Regarding Nuno Santos, he returned to training the day before the game against AVS Futebol SAD and that's why we opted not to call him up. But he's well now and will be named in the squad."

Asking for 'extra' effort from players already at their limit
"They know they are at a demanding club. I'm very much about dialogue. The players know the importance they have on the team and what they represent in the dynamics and in the group. The team need them, and I'll give an example that is praise for Daniel [Bragança]:

At the Estádio do Dragão, he shouldn't even have come on. But he wanted to be with the team, in an important game, and he wanted to help. He came on hurt and played very well, and remained hurt against AVS Futebol SAD. He remains hurt for tomorrow. However, with his determination, he won me over in five minutes. I don't want to lose him, of course, because there's a month left in the season, he's already been out for a long time, and if he gets injured, he won't play again this season. But his feeling prevailed.

I'm very much in favour of honesty and respect. The players have the coach's respect, and the coach has theirs. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. They are the best to assess this, as they perceive the signals from their own bodies. It's clear there's a lot of fatigue, but there's respect and recognition so they can also say if they can help the team and for how long they can do so."

Rotations against CD Tondela
"By tomorrow I will make decisions regarding the players who are most physically and mentally fatigued. The workload of players like Maxi [Araújo], Luis [Suárez] and [Francisco] Trincão has been crazy. Against AVS Futebol SAD, even coming on later, you could feel they weren't fresh."

How to motivate the group with these conditions
"By being optimistic and with a lot of confidence, always. My dialogue with them is always about demanding more, because they know where they are and the club they represent, they know the responsibility of fighting for every honour. We always have to give our best. From my side, it's about showing confidence, the same attitude, the will to keep winning and continuing on our path.

They, more than anyone, feel what happened, but they know that we have complete confidence. They are a great group, a great team. They haven't stopped being that. And they, more than anyone, always want to win; they know what it meant not to win that last game. So they are motivated and switched on.”