The Swede scores a hat-trick against Moreirense FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Moreirense FC 3-1 on Liga Portugal Matchday 30, keeping them top of the table with four games remaining of the season.

As requested by coach Rui Borges, the fans created a 'green wave' at the Estadio José Alvalade, including a welcome for the team bus by hundreds of fans.

Sporting CP made just one change to his starting lineup, bringing Geovany Quenda into the first XI in exchange for Iván Fresneda.

Prior to the match, a minute of applause was held in tribute to the late Aurélio Pereira.

In the next move, Geny Catamo missed the target from a similar position. Then the two combined with Catamo drawing a save from goalkeeper Kewin Silva.

The Estádio José Alvalade exploded with joy in the 12th minute with the opening goal. Captain Morten Hjulmand broke through from the right, entered the area and crossed, and when the Moreirense goalkeeper deflected the ball to Catamo, Gyökeres was on hand to finish off.

The momentum continued, with Sporting CP immediately setting out in search of the second goal. Several chances came from the left wing, with the Moreirense FC defence being torn apart from the speed of the passes and runs in their half.

Attempts by Geovany Quenda, Trincão, Gyökeres and Catamo were a prelude to the team making it 2-0 in the 25th minute. Trincão advanced several metres unchallenged, and struck against the defence. The ball fell to Gyökeres who smashed it into the back of the net with his right foot.

Upon the restart, Moreirense FC approached Rui Silva's area for the first time, with the goalkeeper claiming the ball calmly off the cross.

Not even the heavy rain that began to fall from the 38th minute onwards slowed down the impetus of Sporting CP. Five minutes before half-time, Maxi Araújo broke through on the left and crossed for Gyökeres, but Kewin got there first and denied the Leonino striker a hat-trick.

Maxi, in stoppage time, turned, round the goalkeeper and attempted a backheel, but Kewin recovered in time to deny him.

A dominant Sporting CP, who had enjoyed 70% possession, went into the break 2-0 to the good.

To start the second half, Moreirense FC appeared rejuvenated, with two changes to their lineup. In the 47th minute, away team debutant Ivo Rodrigues shot straight at Rui Silva.

It wasn't enough to scare Os Leões: in the 52nd minute, Gyökeres completed his hat-trick with an outstanding free kick. The Swedish striker delivered a piledriver into the net and scored his 90th goal for the club, in his second season in Portugal.

Four minutes later, and completely unexpectedly, Moreirense FC managed to reduce the deficit through Cédric Teguia, who appeared at the far post to convert a cross from Godfried Frimpong.

Moreirense FC were motivated by the Cameroonian's goal and were very close to making it 3-2 in the 60th minute, but Yan Maranhão's header grazed the woodwork on its way out.

On 68 minutes, another huge ovation arrived, as Pedro Gonçalves made his home return from a long-term injury.

After a lull in play, an excellent move by Catamo woke the action up, then Trincão combined with Gonçalves for a shot across, blocked by Kewin.

Borgesthen brought on Ricardo Esgaio, Matheus Reis and Iván Fresneda for the final minutes, and the Spaniard came close to scoring with a lob over Kewin, but the result remained the same.

Sporting CP took a deserved 3-1 triumph, as they continue in the driving seat in the title race.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Zeno Debast (Iván Fresneda, 84’), Viktor Gyökeres, Francisco Trincão (Ricardo Esgaio, 84’), Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 84’), Geny Catamo, Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Morten Hjulmand [C], Geovany Quenda (Pedro Gonçalves, 68’) and Eduardo Quaresma (Jeremiah St. Juste, 68’).

The team host Moreirense FC this Friday at Estádio José Alvalade

Sporting Coach Rui Borges previewed his side's Friday night fixture against Moreirense FC in a pre-match press conference, and called upon the fans to continue their support in the final stretch of the season.

The impact of the supporters
"It's very important and I made a point of emphasising this at the end of the game against CD Santa Clara. The massive support from the fans has been the same since we arrived. They make us believe and we want them to believe as much as we do. We really believe in ourselves and the players convey this on the pitch, regardless of the difficulty of each game. We have immense belief, a huge ambition to be champions, and I ask the fans to come out and create a fantastic 'wave of green' in these five remaining games."

The return of Hidemasa Morita
"Morita is out of the game against Moreirense FC, but he will still be important in the final stretch. He is important on the pitch and is making his contribution, despite all the problems he has had. We need him and he will be back very soon. He wants to recover as quickly as possible and is very motivated to be able to help in the upcoming games. He is very important for the team and a player I admire a lot."

A possible starting role for Pedro Gonçalves
"I wish I could have Pedro Gonçalves 100% fit, but he was out for five months. Everything is sore for him except the pain from the injury, because he is in 'preseason,' let's say. We have to be careful and his return requires individual fitness work on his part. He is still far away from being a starter, but I believe we will be racing against time and that he will still be very important in this final stretch of the season. He's tired but he's given his all, he's focused and wants to help, he believes that the team will be happy in the end and he wants to contribute to that. He is available to help at any time. That makes me happy."

Controversy regarding refereeing and the game against Moreirense FC
"The Sporting CP coach is focused on what he controls, which is the game. Moreirense FC beat Sporting CP and FC Porto at home, drew with SL Benfica, and had a great game at Estádio da Luz as well. They are a very competitive, well-organised team, who have had their own routines for some years now. They are very calm in defence and competent in attack, and their coach works very well on set pieces. We have to be prepared. I owe a lot to the club I'm going to face, because they opened the doors for me in the Primeira Liga. I know most of the players and we will be focused on transitions and set pieces, if they exist for the opponents. In attack, we have to understand what we can explore within our individual and collective quality."

The ban for Conrad Harder
"The player celebrated a victory with our fans, without provoking anyone. The referee made the decision he did and I believe it will be reversed, because the footage is clear. If we don't celebrate, football becomes apathetic, but we are prepared to go into the game with or without Conrad."

Criticism of the performance of the title contenders
"When things don't go as we want, we put others down. We really want to be champions, and so do the fans, and we will celebrate with all due merit if that happens. It will be more than deserved for everything the group has overcome and will continue to overcome until the end of the season. They really deserve to be happy."

Five important games
"We'll take it one game at a time; there is no futurology and no easy games. We will focus on what we control and go into each game with the desire, ambition and will that we have shown. There are competitive teams that want to steal points from the big teams."

The motto for the final stretch of the season
"Luck is about hard work and that's why I say: "Whoever is most competent until the end will be champions." We know all the difficulties that lie ahead, but the ambition and belief that the team have demonstrated, despite sometimes less successful performances... the players are incredible and really deserve to be happy. The fans have spoken for us: "We don't need slogans for the final stretch, we need you to believe as much as we do and to be connected with us."

Alisson Santos' integration
"He has been training a lot with the first team, and he is growing and adapting to the demands of Sporting CP. He is a kid we believe in a lot, he has a lot of potential and characteristics that we like. He is going through a period of adaptation, understanding the size of the club and getting to know his teammates. He has provided a very good response. He wins duels, is powerful and will have his growth. I have no doubt he will be a player you hear a lot about."

The squad work out on Tuesday for their Liga Portugal game

The Sporting Clube de Portugal squad trained on Tuesday at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, preparing for their home game against Moreirense FC on Friday.

Rui Borges called on young players Kauã Oliveira, Eduardo Felicíssimo and Lucas Taibo to take part in the session.

The team will return to training on Wednesday morning.

The coach reviews the win away to CD Santa Clara

Rui Borges gave a press conference room at the Estádio São Miguel Stadium after Sporting CP's 0-1 victory over CD Santa Clara.

Analysis of the game
"Sporting CP were the only team that tried to win. It was a difficult first half, against a team playing with a low block. I didn't feel like they were looking for the win, but rather waiting for our mistakes. We had to create depth and variations, and we could have shot more often. In the second half we started very well, after adjusting some of our behaviours. We started much more dynamic and active, looking for the goal, and we got there with merit and ease. We could have scored another goal, and I think we deserved to.

CD Santa Clara committed a lot of fouls, which disrupted the game, but in the second half we were more competitive in the duels and this was noticeable. I'm really happy with the team's talent; they're amazing."

Halftime changes
"We played with two midfielders: One converted and more defensive, and Morten [Hjulmand], who ended up being a number 6. Pedro Gonçalves and [Hidemasa] Morita are players who get into other areas and who we needed.

At halftime I asked Zeno [Debast], who is not an offensive player, to move into higher spaces, and that way we created more between the lines, we pushed Geny [Catamo] into the inner spaces and that's how we scored the goal. We made decisions earlier, were cleaner and with less pressure, and we were more effective."

The performance in the first half
"The performance was good, at a difficult ground and against a team having a great season. CD Santa Clara were the only team to win at the Estádio José Alvalade, and with the fewest shots conceded in Liga Portugal.

We knew that we would have few opportunities -and that the few we had, we had to take advantage of. Against low blocks we have to be competent, not make big displays of scoring. We were aware of what the game demands, we kept a clean sheet, we won 1-0 and the victory is more than deserved."

Maxi Araújo and Iván Fresneda's introductions into the starting lineup
"Maxi Araújo and Fresneda came on to force the verticality, but the wind really hindered our initial strategy. The idea was to try to use more width, get crosses in, and we tried on three or four occasions to make long passes that always came out too strong, despite the well-made movements.

In the second half we adjusted, with one more man closer to the finishing zone, and created more accelerations close to the opponent's area."

The return of Pedro Gonçalves
"I'm happy for him. He deserves it, as he has worked hard and waited a long time for this return. It's a very important comeback, because he's a different player, but also it's a big thing for the group because of the importance he has to his teammates."

In a young team it is important to have competitive players who demand the best from their teammates all the time. He is a player who wants more and more. I'm happy to see him back on the pitch and our football also deserves him back on the pitch," he added.

Sporting CP win 0-1 away from home

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat CD Santa Clara 0-1 in the Azores on Liga Portugal Matchday 29. Geny Catamo's solitary goal was enough for the team to earn three important points on the road.

At the Estádio São Miguel, coach Rui Borges opted for a starting lineup with two changes: Maxi Araújo and Iván Fresneda returned to the XI in place of Matheus Reis and Geovany Quenda.

On a typical spring afternoon in the Azores archipelago, with radiant sun, after an intense and unexpected period of rain, Sporting CP took over possession early in the game, but without creating any real chances. So much so that the first shot on target in the game ended up being from the home team, who troubled Rui Silva after just six minutes: Daniel Borges won a second ball and shot across goal, with the effort going just wide.

Rui Borges' men tried to break through the organised defence, with little success, but found it difficult to get into the final third. On 21 minutes, Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres showed good understanding in the central channel, but collided with the wall created by the opposition. On 24 minutes, it was Geny Catamo who appeared on the left, without being able to get a cross in.

The clock ticked down without any significant moves in a very tactical first half, until in the 37th minute Zeno Debast took an excellent free kick from far out, forcing Gabriel Batista to make a good save.

The move ‘woke up’ Os Leões, who soon after benefited from another set piece. This time, the Belgian shot from the left flank and Catamo appeared to head the ball wide of the mark. Afterwards, Vinícius Lopes forced Rui Silva to make a difficult save at the other end, and Trincão struck just wide of the post.

The game would not go into halftime without another attempt by Catamo, who was denied by the Azorean goalkeeper.

With no changes for the second half, Sporting CP came out active, but it was CD Santa Clara who came closest to scoring in the 48th minute: MT got free at the far post and headed the ball outside the upright.

Finally, Sporting CP broke the deadlock through Catamo in the 50th minute. After an excellent run by Francisco Trincão, he came in from the right of the area and, with a low cross-shot, found the net. With seven goals this campaign, the Mozambican has surpassed his tally from last season.

Ten minutes later, he made another move on the right, left an opponent in his wake and crossed into the box, but no one, other than Gabriel Batista, was able to get on the end of it.

In the 64th minute, after an excellent run by Debast, Fresneda crossed straight onto Gyökeres' right foot, but the Swede's powerful shot hit the crossbar.

Soon after, Rui Borges introduced Geovany Quenda and Jeremiah St. Juste, and Sporting CP came very close to scoring the second goal. In the 68th minute, Debast's free kick crossed the entire defensive line and Ousmane Diomande appeared at the edge of the area to extend the lead. However, VAR intervened, signalling an offside position for the Ivorian defender.

Stronger in individual duels and without conceding space, Sporting CP managed to stop the opponents' pressure in the second half, and Rui Silva became more of a spectator.

In the 77th minute, Conrad Harder came on, and a minute later Quenda tried to set the Dane through, but his cross was too powerful and went straight out of play.

One of the game's greatest moments came in the 87th minute, as after many months out, Pedro Gonçalves made his long-awaited return to competition.

After the start of injury time, Gabriel Silva came very close to equalising, but his shot from far away went just wide of the post and Sporting CP held on, securing a hard-fought but fair victory.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Zeno Debast, Viktor Gyökeres, Francisco Trincão (Pedro Gonçalves, 87’), Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 87’), Geny Catamo (Conrad Harder, 77’), Iván Fresneda (Geovany Quenda, 66’), Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Morten Hjulmand [C] and Eduardo Quaresma (Jeremiah St. Juste, 66’).

The coach speaks on the eve of the trip to CD Santa Clara

Sporting Clube de Portugal play this Saturday, at 6pm in the Azores, against CD Santa Clara.

In the pre-match press conference for the Liga Portugal Matchday 29 game, coach Rui Borges highlighted Sporting CP's desire to win the title for a second consecutive season and confirmed that Pedro Gonçalves could play.

Condolences for the passing of Aurelio Pereira
“First of all, I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Aurélio, who was a very important person not only at Sporting CP, but in Portuguese football. He paved the way in terms of scouting, for finding and developing several great players.”

CD Santa Clara
“It will be a difficult game, on a difficult pitch, against a team who are having a great season, who are very competitive, very well organised, and one of the teams that allow the fewest shots to the opposition. They are very strong and very aggressive in transition, and the team that commits the most fouls in the division. This shows how competitive CD Santa Clara are in this sense. They have very strong players, especially in the final third, where they can create imbalances at any moment. Therefore, we have to be prepared, and be aware that we have to be very competitive to face this team. Then, of course, we have to continue to be how we have been: A Sporting CP with calmness, ability, individual quality and, at times, collective quality, to be better than CD Santa Clara.”

Conrad Harder
“For me, it’s a non-issue. I could have used other words to say what I wanted to say about him, but it was never in a critical tone. It was in the course of the questions in which I was just justifying, at that moment, why he came on as a winger, which is not his position. At that moment we needed players who could keep the ball, calm the game down more, and he is a player who is more of a transitional player, with intensity and speed. My words were never in a critical tone, even though I could have used other words. His reaction was good, normal, and he's been training happily. I had a conversation with him, but he knows his coach well, he knows what the coach thinks and wants from him, and I have affection for him and for everyone else.

Losing the top spot
“I'm a highly motivated coach and very confident about the final stretch of the season. In three and a half months, this was the first time we had lost the lead, so I would never think otherwise. I'm very optimistic and confident about the future and the team as well. We are in the fight for the title and it is down to us alone.”

The second half against SC Braga
“SC Braga had one shot on target in the second half, which was for their goal, and in the first half they had another. Possession is very subjective. I think we are the team with the second most possession in the league, and in the Rui Borges era the average is around 53/54%. We are the team that have the most shots on target, allow the fewest shots from the opposition, are the most efficient in passing, and are the second or third team in terms of the most defensive actions in the attacking midfield. I think that reflects the breakdowns in the second half.”

Players that give him comfort
“All of the Sporting CP players give me comfort. As I said, they have been fantastic in terms of their behaviour and commitment, and they were the same against SC Braga. We were much better in the first half, putting a lot of pressure on them, but it’s normal that we didn’t have 90 minutes with that intensity, especially since we were coming off a Taça de Portugal semifinal where several players played the full 90 minutes. Regarding our finishing, we need to get more shots on target and score more goals. We’ve had a lot of shots and we did in the last game too, but that’s part of it. I tell the players to make a lot of mistakes; they do that, and I take the blame for all of my players’ mistakes, whether they are defensively or offensively.

Pedro Goncalves and Hidemasa Morita
“Pote has been called up for the squad, but we will see to what extent he can contribute to the team and for how long. He has been out for a long time and will have to be managed well by everyone. (...) Morita has not been included.”

Retaining the title
“My goal is to be national champions. (...) After everything we have been through, as I have said, the players have responded fantastically. There is nothing to criticise them for. They are well aware of the goal and are committed to the objective, which is to be two-time champions. (...) We have been under pressure since the first matchday. We have lost first place, but it is still down to ourselves and we will be completely focused until the end.”

The Sporting CP coach reacts to the 1-1 draw with SC Braga

After the 1-1 draw between Sporting Clube de Portugal and SC Braga, coach Rui Borges gave a press conference to talk about the contest.

Analysis of the game
"Nothing changes. Our ambition is the same. It's a result that we neither wanted nor expected. We had chances to have made it 2-0. We didn't manage to and were penalised for it. We started very well, and SC Braga rebalanced the game without creating any danger. In the second half, we started very badly, and we were apathetic and reactive. We allowed SC Braga to gain confidence, but then we balanced the game out until the equaliser, which came when the game was completely under control. We had several opportunities to finish the game off and increase the scoreline, and were punished for not taking them with the game almost over."

Substitutions
"Conrad Harder's late entry into the game was an option. Zeno Debast came off because he was very tired. We tried to hold on a little longer, but it wasn't possible anymore."

Change of position in the table
"It's not the same being in first or second place, but it doesn't change our approach. To be champions, we had to win our games. The margin of error has decreased, but we continue to depend on ourselves and our thought of winning the next game doesn't change. We will turn our focus to CD Santa Clara and remain focused."

The fans' reaction
"It's part of things. It's a sign of the pressure on me and on all of us. I understand that they are frustrated, like we are. We really wanted to win, but we didn't do it. The team have the makings of champions, because if we didn't, we wouldn't have been in first place until now."

The strategy
"In the first 30 minutes we were clearly the better side, and the team were 100 percent focused. We knew very well where we had to look for spaces to be able to get into the final third. When we started to feel some difficulty in terms of tiredness, we let SC Braga grow in possession and we started to make bad decisions. It had a lot to do with fatigue, because strategically we were fine."

Fatigue
"There were three or four players who were feeling it physically, that's no excuse for the result. Fatigue is part of the game and we have to be able to deal with it. It's natural that we can't press for 90 minutes."

Os Leões draw 1-1 at home with SC Braga

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 1-1 in their Monday night fixture at home to SC Braga in Liga Portugal. Viktor Gyökeres scored the opening goal for Os Leões with a free kick in the first half.

At a sold-out Estádio José Alvalade, Rui Borges made three changes from the starting lineup fielded against Rio Ave FC, leaving Jeremiah St. Juste, Iván Fresneda and Maxi Araújo on the bench to bring in Gonçalo Inácio, Geovany Quenda and Matheus Reis.

Sporting CP were the better side and put the ball in the net from one of their first attacks, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Gyökeres was denied by just a three-centimetre margin.

Geny Catamo then fired a shot over the bar and Gyökeres had an effort saved by Lukáš Horníček. Amine El Ouazzani timidly responded for SC Braga with a strike of his own, but Rui Silva made a calm save.

Gyökeres did get his goal, and it took just 15 minutes or him to open the scoring. He had the opportunity from a direct free kick, and decided to smash the ball low, out of the reach of the goalkeeper and inside the post. It was another phenomenal goal, and the 44th of the season for the Swedish hitman -his 31st in the league.

In response, SC Braga advanced their lines and began to get closer to the Sporting CP area, although without creating any danger. From distance, Uroš Račić tried his luck with one of his side's rare attacks of note, but his shot went wide.

It was Sporting CP who came closest to scoring again before the break, in the 37th minute: A ball stolen by Gyökeres led to him advancing into the area and releasing off his foot for a miraculous save by Lukáš Horníček using his head.

Before the interval, Rodrigo Zalazar hit a powerful shot that was well saved by Rui Silva, taking the game into half time with the score at 1-0.

SC Braga returned from the break with the idea of shooting from distance, and had attempts such as Zalazar's shot wide in the 52nd minute. Sporting CP managed to react shortly after, when Quenda, following a clever move by Catamo, drew a another save from Horníček. Off the rebound, Gyökeres missed the target.

In the 63rd minute, Zeno Debast swerved a free kick into the side netting and, shortly after, SC Braga had one of their best chances: A free kick from the right ended up with the ball in the middle of the area, causing confusion and danger, but none of the visiting side's players finished the opportunity.

On the counterattack, Sporting CP once again went forward, and Gyökeres, set up by Catamo, shot over the bar.

In 73rd minute, Rui Borges made his first two substitutions - Maxi Araújo and Eduardo Felicíssimo came on, with Geny Catamo and Zeno Debast withdrawn.

Another good chance went Sporting CP's way, as Quenda recovered possession and passed to Francisco Trincão, whose attack was blocked by Horníček.

SC Braga's goalkeeper saved his team further when he denied Araújo, who had appeared from the left and shot across goal.

Horníček needed to stop from Trincão with ten minutes to go, and the Portuguese international dragged wide in another opportunity moments later.

Amidst this onslaught, SC Braga equalised in the 87th minute, thanks to a header from Afonso Patrão.

Before the end, Conrad Harder came on to replace Matheus Reis and SC Braga's João Moutinho was sent off for a second yellow card, but the result did not change further.

Os Leões will play again next Saturday, heading to the Azores to face CD Santa Clara.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo inácio, Geovany Quenda, Morten Hjulmand [C], Zeno Debast (Eduardo Felicíssimo, 73'), Matheus Reis (Conrad Harder, 90'), Francisco Trincão, Geny Catamo (Maxi Araújo, 73') and Viktor Gyökeres.

Sporting CP host SC Braga this Monday at 8:45 pm local time

Sporting Clube de Portugal have a Monday fixture against SC Braga on Liga Portugal Matchday 28, and coach Rui Borges spoke to the media ahead of the game.

SC Braga
"I think we will encounter the best SC Braga side of the season; a team who have grown in confidence and form. In the last ten games, they have eight wins, one draw and one defeat, and have only two away defeats this season. They are the team that, after Sporting CP, I think, get the most points away from home. They have been growing in the last few games, have been able to bring back in some important players, and you can clearly notice the difference in terms of their confidence and quality. Therefore, we expect a strong SC Braga, who want to win and are motivated. However, above all we'll see a Sporting CP who are very confident and with a very competitive attitude. I believe it will be a good game between two great teams, with both sides wanting to win. We will have to be very competitive, as we have been."

The game between FC Porto and SL Benfica putting pressure on Sporting CP
"The pressure has been there for a long time. It comes with trying to win the remaining games, one by one. That's our pressure, to win and become champions. It is only down to us and there couldn't be better pressure for us. None of us care about the other results. Our total focus is on our game, which will be difficult, against a great team."

Missed scoring opportunities
"It's natural for you to question things, but I don't worry about any of that. We have scored several goals and created a lot of chances in the last few games. It's normal that sometimes we don't manage to score so many goals, but I'm happy with the team's attitude, how they are intense and are creating goalscoring situations. If that wasn't the case, I would be worried. It happens with other teams too; no one wins that easily and there aren't easy games. I feel the team growing at every moment of the game and that makes me confident for the matches we have left this season.”

The most important matchday in this final stretch of the season
"There will still be a Clássico, a game between first and second, whoever it is, in the penultimate round of fixtures. It's an important matchday with good games, and everyone can drop points, but I'm just focused on our game. Don't expect me to say that I want any one side to win, I just want to win our game. That's what I can control. And if we're competitive, like I said, it's still up to us. The most important game is ours. If we win, we are first, whatever happens. I'm not going to talk about the opponents. For them the most important game will be theirs and for us ours. We only depend on ourselves, so our game is the most important."

What Zeno Debast gives in midfield
"He adds what he has added already. He is a dynamic player, he has grown, he is better, more intense and aggressive and he will give us that thing that his technical quality gives us. Everyone recognises that and he feels confident because of that. He will grow a lot and do well as a midfielder, but I will never forget that he is centre back, even though he is available, confident and does things very well".

Pedro Gonçalves and Hidemasa Morita's availability
“The forecast for Pote remains a ten-day period, which I had already said, and Morita is out of the game.”

The Sporting CP coach looks at the win over Rio Ave FC

After Sporting CP’s 2-0 home victory against Rio Ave FC in the first leg of the Taça de Portugal semi-finals, coach Rui Borges analysed the match in a press conference.

The analysis of the game
"I'm satisfied with the team's display of confidence and commitment, from the beginning to the end of the game. It was a dangerous game against a team in a moment of transition. We couldn't lose focus for a minute and the team remained switched on until the end. I was satisfied with the second half, where we demonstrated enormous ambition, as we weren't satisfied with the 2-0 scoreline. We wanted more. Clearly we could have left here with another result and we could have had the tie even further in our favour. I’m happy with the quality the team had throughout the game.”

His conversation with Trincão
"He's tired (laughs). He's a player with a lot of minutes under his belt, and here and there you notice that fatigue, but he's a player who can decide the game at any moment. He had some chances to finish off, but he wasn't able to get what he deserved, especially for what he gives to the team. He told me that he feels good and is ready for the end of the season."

Fielding St. Juste in the starting XI
"He had been almost always a starter since I arrived, until he got injured. Today he played a good 60 minutes and that's the St. Juste we always want. He went off because he had been out for a while, but he gave a huge response and is another player who has our full confidence."

Sporting CP being the team with the most penalties called in Portugal
"It's a sign that we have more actions in the opposition area and they are more exposed to making fouls. We have players with a lot of technical quality and strength."

The option of three centre backs
"The initial formation is worth what it's worth, because within the strategy we adapt our movement to give the team more comfort. The team are growing in terms of confidence and in some behaviours, and this is seen in the game. The level of ambition has been enormous since we arrived and perhaps that's why we are at the top of the table."

Gyökeres' perfect penalty conversion rate
"He practices that, like anything else. He's a player who, above all, is focused and looks at every detail. He wants to improve in everything, he's competitive and never rests. I'm running out of objectives for Viktor to reach. He's different, and he's the best player in the country."

Debast's evolution in midfield
"It has been a successful change. He has made a phenomenal response and has grown from game to game at all levels: in decision-making, in defensive terms, in his positioning. With his technical quality, adapting some behaviours, he has become more intense and aggressive. He can be a wonderful midfielder."

Wanting more goals
"I feel like they're increasingly focused on this month and a half, on winning all the competitions possible. The game went as expected, but of course I would have been happier if we had scored more goals, because we had chances to score them. We created that goal before the break and the ambition was very evident. They deserved it for wanting to score more."

The chance to make history with a double
"It's not easy, but above all I see that the players are focused. They have shown a huge display of focus, ambition and desire. We are top of the table and one small step away from being in a cup final. But more than thinking about a month and a half from now, we have to think about Monday's game, which is the next one up. That's how we have made this long journey and I believe, since the day I arrived, that it can be happy and beautiful in the end".

Geny Catamo's position on the left of the attack
"A player can never be stuck in one position. He plays well there and a player can't be stuck doing just one thing, otherwise he won't grow and will only do that. This is his position, as a winger, and he plays both inside and outside. Will he make mistakes? He will, but that's the only way he will grow. I have to have the ability to help him be better. That goes not only for Geny but for Quenda too, who can also play on the left, where he had great games when we arrived. He has already been sold to Chelsea FC and I have no doubt that he was signed as a winger”.

The most consistent performance
"It was a good game. We also had a good game in Vila do Conde, which was one of the best, but perhaps in terms of consistency in the 90 minutes this was the most consistent. I think so.”