The coach looks at the game against FC Famalicão

In a press conference held on Friday, Rui Borges previewed Sporting Clube de Portugal's away trip to take on FC Famalicão. The Liga Portugal Matchday 5 game takes place on Saturday at 8:30pm.

Previewing the game
"It will undoubtedly be a great game, against a good team who have started the season very well. They’ve yet to concede a goal and are very competitive and aggressive in duels for the ball. As a unit, they resort to fouls a lot at times, and in 2025 they have yet to lose at home. This clearly demonstrates their quality. A team that is always very difficult to face at home awaits for us, and that is especially so when they are so motivated. It's a very difficult fixture against good opponents, but we want to give a good response based on what we've achieved so far. We want to get back to winning ways, continue on our path, and demonstrate the quality we've had in order to move forward and, most importantly, get the three points."

The transfer market and the option of Jota Silva
"The best thing about the transfer market was that we managed to maintain the core of our squad. We only lost one key player, and kept Pedro Gonçalves, Gonçalo Inácio, Morten Hjulmand, Francisco Trincão, Maxi Araújo, Zeno Debast... They were all very important players for our second consecutive title. Our biggest desire was to maintain this core, and we deserve credit for that.

Regarding Jota: From the end of last season, we had clearly identified what we wanted, and our objectives regarding Jota and the way we wanted to bring him in were very clear. The structure did the best they could, and I would have loved to have had him here -but within a framework we had identified. There were other names we could have considered as a solution, but they were more difficult to sign. However, there are two parties involved, in Sporting CP and Nottingham Forest FC, and unfortunately, we couldn't get it done. I was sad, especially for the player, whom I really like.”

Jeremiah St. Juste
"The president [Frederico Varandas] has said all that needs to be said. We had identified early on that he would be fifth choice in the position. With the gravity of the situation, the solution involved his departure. We were all on the same page, and that was made clear in the president's words.

Decisions at Sporting CP involve everyone; everyone has an opinion. We always do what we think is best for the group and for Sporting CP. The atmosphere is good."

Geovany Quenda and Georgios Vagiannidis
"They brought more quality to the group [when they came off the bench]. They're ready to play, and I've already said that it's my fault -because I can only field 11 players. I can't play with 12 or 13. Sometimes it's very difficult, and I have to make decisions. I'm here to do that, and I'll take responsibility for the decisions I make. They're two great players who have been waiting for their chance to play since the beginning. I don't know if that will be tomorrow or not, but they'll get the opportunity. I hope they perform at their best when they do."

Ousmane Diomande, Hidemasa Morita, and Maxi Araújo
"Ousmane Diomande and Hidemasa Morita are out of the game. Maxi Araújo is a doubt. He trained today, and we'll make a decision tomorrow."

Portuguese clubs’ transfer activity
"Everyone improved as a team. Our greatest achievement was maintaining the foundation of a team who have been champions in consecutive seasons, which speaks volumes about our quality. That was our greatest desire, and we achieved it. Even outside the big leagues, teams have become more competitive with player acquisitions. FC Famalicão are a good example of this, as are Gil Vicente FC and Moreirense FC. The teams have added more quality and been more rigorous in their selection."

Fotis Ioannidis
"He was a great acquisition for us. He's a player who will provide us with many solutions, whether as an alternative to Luis Suárez or playing alongside him. I'm happy to have him on our books and I believe he'll add a lot of quality."

The possible need for a winger
"I have so many. Maxi Araújo, Ricardo Mangas... Last year, we had no solutions and we were league champions with the youngsters from the B team playing. They're ready to respond and are waiting for an opportunity. I'm happy with the squad I have. I would have liked to have had Jota Silva too, but it wasn't something we had 100% control over. We have no regrets, and I'll say it again: The biggest merit of our transfer market work was being able to keep a large part of the squad."

Nuno Santos
"It's a big pity that I can’t use him Although he's a bit of a nuisance, he's a positive nuisance. I'd really like to have him as a winger and a full back. His injury is a more chronic one, more confusing. Nuno Santos has been a true warrior, and it takes a lot of resilience to overcome this. He's a great example and inspiration for us."

Young players from the B Team
"We have a lot of faith in the B team, who have had a very good start to the season. There’s José Silva, Bruno Ramos, Eduardo Felicíssimo, Rayan Lucas, Flávio Gonçalves, Lucas Anjos, Mauro Couto, Salvador Blopa... Rodrigo Ribeiro, who trains with us daily, has grown in a short time. Expectations were too high in the early stages of his career, and he's now experiencing gradual growth. We have great faith in the B team's ability and in our individual quality."

Willingness to respond
"The performances have been good. Against FC Porto, that wasn't as good as in previous games, but it wasn't a bad performance. We want to respond, we want to play well and win, regardless of the opponents. We respect the opponents, who have quality. I see the team as very focused, rigorous, and ambitious; it's a fantastic group. When they come to the game, they are very connected. They have a daily camaraderie that is evident in the game; the collective connection is very good. The ambition to be champions again is infinite."