The coach talks up his side after the win against AFS

After the impressive 6-0 win at home to AFS, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges analysed the performance in his post-match press conference.

Analysis of the game
“The team were competent and gave the same response we have been giving as of late, even with some changes. Apart from the first 15 minutes, which were very tepid with AFS trying to slow the game down, and the last 15 minutes, where we made many errors with our passing, the team were competent and dynamic. We broke through with the first goal and then always went in search of more.”

Sporting CP being the best team playing in Portugal
“I'll leave that to you to decide; for me, my team are always the best. In my opinion, we are the best and we have shown that we are the best, but we are not in first place in the league, so maybe someone is better than us.”

The impressive result
“This comprehensive win only gives us only three points. We can't get too carried away in that aspect. It could be difficult to get the team to 'switch on' after two games of maximum pressure, when we are at home against the bottom placed team; mentally, that could be a difficult part, and perhaps the changes we made were important in that sense. The guys did very well and had high energy to keep focused.”

Diomande and Geny Catamo
“In principle, they won’t be available on Thursday. I'll field whoever I have available, and we will be competitive. I have to be like that. I want to win, very much. I'm calm about that. I wish I had everyone to choose from; I don't, but with whoever I have, I'll win.”

Several players' good form
“Luis [Suárez] is having a good start to the season, but he's also doing well because the team are doing well. Geny scored two goals. Maxi, who was playing in a different position, also scored twice. So above all, I value the collective -and then one or two players are standing out. It's a sign that everyone is on the same page and it shows the collective growth of the team.”

Possible renewal for Matheus Reis
“I don't put myself in that role much, it's more a job for the club -and they know what we want for the future of Sporting CP. Matheus has been a very important player and will continue to be so, not only for his experience, but also for his character and the energy he brings when he plays. He is a very important player in the group and someone we all like very much.”

Ioannidis and Suárez together in attack
“We're trying and training some different things, but whoever plays, I think they'll respond well. Maxi responded, Alisson too, as did Quenda when he played. Fotis, if he plays, will respond. Above all, the important thing is to feel that they want to help and understand what they have to do in each position. That makes me happy.”

The evolution during almost a year in charge
“Clearly, I am a better coach now, and clearly, Sporting CP are a better team, because the team has more of my mark and we’ve spent more time working together. The future will tell. I came here for a huge challenge, it made me grow and I feel that I have evolved a lot.”

Maxi Araújo playing further up the pitch
“He brings something different there. We know he really pushes the defensive line, makes diagonal runs, he's very aggressive, and we needed that. Maxi gives us that, he scored because of that, and it was important to have him getting into the box. With small details, we wanted to create overflows and make AFS's defensive line uncomfortable, and fortunately we managed to do that.”

Gonçalo Inácio's substitution at halftime
“It was to manage the game, because he wasn't one hundred percent fit, and besides, we're going to lose Diomande to the AFCON, and we didn't want to take that risk.”

The absence of Morten Hjulmand
“He was out because he was sick. Iván [Fresneda] too. Luis has already been out. Let me talk about Morten, because he gave another demonstration of what it is to be a leader. Maybe he could have played, but he told me: ‘coach, I’m not at one hundred percent, I have teammates who are better equipped than me and it’s better to have someone who is one hundred percent fit. It clearly demonstrates his respect for his teammates, for the team, and his ambition.”