Rui Borges was satisfied with Sporting’s “very competent 90 minutes” in the victory against Marítimo (2-1), achieved on Tuesday night, which earned them passage to the final four of the League Cup. At a press conference, the Lions’ coach once again dodged questions about his future as the Lions’ technical manager, after seeing leader FC Porto remain nine points behind in the championship, and assured that he was only “focused” on the next game.
“I think the whole team did well. It’s difficult to change a whole eleven, to get here and have an above-average quality of play. It’s impossible. Given what the last two results were, it’s natural for some lack of confidence here or there, and that showed up at an early stage of the game. But the team tried to grow, without getting into collective mistrust, and played a very competent game. We ended up conceding a goal in a losing ball on our part, in a ball that was completely controlled on our part, where Marítimo wasn’t even playing anymore. pressing too high and couldn’t win us the ball. It ended up growing there in those last two minutes, leaving some natural discomfort, compared to the last two games”, Rui Borges began by saying.
“Above all, it was a very competent 90 minutes from the team. I think we could have scored goals in another way, with lots of balls hitting the post again. Luck takes work. It’s about continuing to believe in the work and following our path”, he highlighted.
Faced with whistles coming from the stands at the José de Alvalade Stadium, Borges promised “work” to the fans and rejected the theory that the victory against Marítimo is an oxygen balloon, saying he still speaks “every day” with president Frederico Varandas.
“It was a game achieved on our part, where we wanted to be in the final four, that’s all. Different competition. I said in the Sporting television preview: we really wanted to be able to be in contention for the trophy and that’s what we want to do. Now it’s time to focus again on what the championship is and on the game with Casa Pia”, he stressed.
“Rui Silva is a great goalkeeper”
Sporting presented an eleven with several changes and Rui Silva had the opportunity to play in the League Cup, after having lost his starting position in the Champions League and the championship. In the end, he received praise from Borges, who considers him a “great goalkeeper”.
“I’ve already answered that. Dissatisfaction, for me, is natural in what my job is. There are no standards, I’m not worried about that, quite honestly. I’m worried about doing the best in my job, trying to be better with each passing day, looking for solutions and doing the best for Sporting. That’s guaranteed. The rest is part of it. About the goal? Rui was important, even for the rest of the team. He’s a great goalkeeper and he doesn’t let of being because Kaique played three games. He continues to work in the same way, with the same spirit. He is an important player for the whole group, a mature player and today that maturity passed on from the front was important.
