Statements after winning the Taça de Portugal

After the victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal in the Taça de Portugal final against SL Benfica, coach Rui Borges talked in a press conference at Jamor.

Obstacles overcome during the season
"Difficulties exist, but I just don't get attached to them. It all depends on how we look at them and take advantage of them to seize opportunities. We worked hard and made the players believe they were league champions. They didn't lose their quality and they didn't stop being the best. When one player didn't play, another played. It's part of life and I look back at my life with great happiness and gratitude for what it gives me every day."

Analysis of the game
"It was a competitive game, like all the others we've had against these opponents. At times we were the better side, at others they were. We started well in the first half, then we let SL Benfica believe and Rui Silva made a great save. The game balanced out and, in the second half, we wanted to be stronger in the duels, where we were being a bit soft. SL Benfica had a different strategy than usual and overcame our initial formation. We didn't start so well in the second half and were a bit lost for five minutes after their goal. Naturally, SL Benfica tried to hold onto the result. It's natural, as it's the final."

The fairness of the result
"It was 1-3 and the result speaks for itself. It's very fair."

The masterclass by Viktor Gyökeres
"Those who are watching from the outside have to understand that Viktor won't always be at his best. He had to be more patient at times to have fewer chances -but better ones. At any moment he can solve the problem and he got the equaliser. Not all actions will be great ones, and he has to make a difference from the few that he has. He has given a lot to the team and he did it again today, but the team also give a lot to Viktor. Today Sporting CP won. Viktor won and others, like David Moreira, who deserves it a lot, did too."

Ivan Fresneda and Matheus Reis
"They have already been training in that position that they played in. It makes the game different because we were losing and instead of creating imbalances with just Maxi Araújo or Geovany Quenda, we could create them with more players. Matheus and Ivan went through the channel more, we took a few more risks and we tried to create that dynamic."

Francisco Trincão
"His performance made me very proud. After working with the players, we have different feelings about them. Trincão has always been a great player and he deserves it. I told him to decide the game, because he deserves recognition in big games and finals. Throughout all the problems we went through, he never told me he was tired. He broke his hand and still played. I never saw him sad, I always saw him switched on. He is a very intelligent player. He is one of the best players in terms of his tactical reading of the game. Technically, he is above your average player and he is managing to combine this with the competitive side. I have no doubt that he will have a fantastic future."

Next season and the spirit at Sporting CP
"It's the same intention now: Make them believe that they are two-time champions. A difficult season is coming, but we want to rest. These past few months have been difficult and we need to make the most of the rest. Next season will be very difficult, but we all know that we are at a great club. We have a great family spirit at Sporting CP and I would like to say a few words to our fans. They have been fantastic and have the same spirit and confidence as we do. Today, we saw that the fans really believed that we were going to win, and that was passed on to our players. It's an achievement for everyone. We are all part of the Sporting CP family. This spirit is increasingly cemented at the club and long may it continue to be so."

Reviewing the season
"I couldn't ask for more. Only if we won the Taça da Liga, but we competed in that final too. We really wanted to be in the finals. We have always been there and we can only be proud. More than the results, our work has always spoken for us and will continue to do so. Nothing was gifted to me; I never won anything at other clubs. I came to Sporting CP because they saw us as a competent coaching team, with good ideas, and good people. That is what makes me most proud. I am sure that I am a good person because I had a very good upbringing. I want to send a kiss to my parents, who were here today and I am very happy to dedicate the victory to them. Since we've been here, we've taken this path together. We had to take decisions, which is part of the job, and we have always stuck together for Sporting CP. I want to give recognition to the medical team, which is clearly the best around and who do not do anything randomly. They deserve recognition from me because they were bombarded with doubts from people. They were very important in our achievements."