The coach talks about the Champions League exit

After the 0-0 draw at home to BV Borussia 09 Dortmund that resulted in Sporting CP bowing out of the UEFA Champions League (0-3 on aggregate), Rui Borges spoke in a press conference at Signal Iduna Park.

Starting by looking at the tie overall, the coach singled out the second half in Alvalade, where the team conceded all three goals, as being the key moment.

“We had a great first half in Alvalade and today, given the circumstances, I couldn't have asked for a better attitude. We could have had more quality here or there, because we misplaced some passes, but that is part of the lack of maturity that we have because our team is so Young”.

“There is nothing to reproach the players for. We dignified Sporting CP and now we have to follow our path”, he highlighted.

Asked about the performance of Rui Silva, who ended up being chosen as Man of the Match, Rui Borges considered that the goalkeeper “did his role” with “two or three very good saves. He saved a penalty that, honestly, didn't seem like a penalty to me. He's a mature player, he gives this calmness to the team and that's important”.

Regarding the changes he made to his starting lineup and throughout the game, he made no secret of the fact that he was also thinking about the away league game at AVS SAD.

“The squad management started a little in that game in Lisbon. Here, we ended up not being able to manage it very well, because [João] Simões and Morten [Hjulmand] went off injured and [Gonçalo] Inácio was taken off as a precaution. The squad management was present a little, but the team never gave away the tie”.

“The attitude of the team should be praised. There was the debut for Lucas [Anjos], the minutes for [Alexandre] Brito, and also Afonso [Moreira], who started very well. I really liked the young players we introduced in the second half”, he stated.

The return to 3-4-3 was another of the topics discussed and Rui Borges explained that it was a “strategic” option "because BV Borussia 09 Dortmund had some difficulties against lines of five, and also because of the options we had available. The idea was to be organised and expose BV Borussia 09 Dortmund on transitions”.

“Above all, we were competent and competed”, stressed the coach, without forgetting the quality of the opponent.

“They have a great team, they didn’t change any players and that shows the respect they had for us. I'm very happy with what we have been able to do, and with our attitude”.

“The fans demand attitude and the team respond. The fans, like us, really want to be champions. We are focused on what we can control. It was very important to hear them supporting the team from start to finish and it will also be very important in this final stretch of the season”.