The coach looks at Saturday's Liga Portugal game

Sporting Clube de Portugal travels to the Azores this Saturday to face CD Santa Clara, on Matchday 11 of the Liga Portugal season. Before departing for São Miguel, coach Rui Borges held a press conference to preview the contest.

Analysis of CD Santa Clara
“They’re a mature team that know who they are very well, because most of their players and the coach have been together for the last two seasons. They’re a very well-organised, well coached team. Vasco [Matos] is doing a great job. At home, they’re a very competitive team that make life tough for any opponents; last season we had quite a few difficulties in all our matches against them. Some dynamics in their formation have changed. Although they don’t seem to be as well-placed [in eighth place with 11 points], they have even conceded one goal fewer than at this point last season.”

The call-ups for Rui Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão by Portugal
“I think it’s natural, even considering their current form. ‘Pote’ and Trincão are doing very well, Rui just had a great game in the Champions League and Inácio has been very consistent. He has grown immensely and I think he is more mature and more of a leader now. It was expected that these four would be on the list. I'm not looking at the issue of whether they rest or not. I'm looking more at the fact that Quenda could also be there, and Simões, who is in very good form, has shown maturity and quality. I believe they are 'knocking on the door' of the national team and their day will come.”

Iván Fresneda's injury
“He is undergoing rehabilitation and we will see what the expected time on the sidelines will be for him.”

Morita's future at the end of his contract
“We knew about this, but we wanted to use him because we believe he will be a very important player throughout the season, both for what he gives to the team as an athlete and as a person. Simões has always been a solution that we can use, regardless of what happens with Morita. Now, he is in good form -like the team are- and this rise is natural. But last year he already played quite a few games with the first team. It’s down  to his ability.”

The current form
“The team have responded very well in terms of quality of play, but also physically. We have grown in that sense as well. All the players have to be prepared and are very motivated, because they know the demands of tomorrow's game in the Azores. We have to be focused only on that. We know that at the end of the season there is the World Cup and the players may turn their focus to their national teams, but for that to happen they have to give their best here. I believe that the team will give a good response, as they have in recent games.”

Nuno Santos' recovery and potential implications for the squad
“Nuno plays as a full-back and winger, I hope he will be at 100% in January, and I also hope nobody will leave. You can look at the resilience he has shown in the face of a difficult injury; he has had that capacity to do that because he is a true warrior. He is an example for all of us and has improved immensely. He is getting closer and closer, but there are parameters to meet and he is on that path. I hope that in January I can have him available to give me that 'headache', but above all, I would be happy to have him back available."

Ousmane Diomande not receiving a callup for the Ivory Coast
"If he stays here instead of going to the AFCON, all the better for us, but these competitions affect the players. I believe he also wants to represent his national team, but I haven't spoken to him about it. If he doesn't go, he may be sad, but if he stays, all the better for us, because he is an important player. Above all, I want to see the players happy."