The coach summarises the final game of the calendar year

Sporting CP coach Rui Borges analysed the 4-0 victory over Rio Ave FC in his post-match press conference.

The team's offensive output
“I hope I can motivate them to be even better, and not be content with what we have achieved so far in the offensive facet. Above all, we have to maintain this ambition to always be better. I also value the fact that this was another game in which we didn't concede. May 2026 be even better than 2025, which was a fantastic year.”

The football displayed by Sporting CP deserving a better league position
“Deserving is subjective. FC Porto are the best team because they are in first place, and you can never take that merit away from them. I appreciate the words of the Rio Ave FC coach [who considered that Sporting CP play the best football in Portugal], it's a sign of respect and recognition of our quality. But of course we won't always be at our best. Today we were more 'asleep' in the first half and the second half was more at our level. It's part of the game and it's natural, because you're up against another team with their own qualities.”

Using the experience learned from last season to deal with multiple absences
“I’ve always been like this, I don’t complain and I’m grateful every day for being able to be here doing what I love most. I look at my day-to-day life very positively. Last year we had ten players out at the same time, now it's eight. Fotis and Maxi played whilst sick and they didn’t train before the game, Edu woke up with symptoms and he felt it in the first half -but then he had a second half like he was playing for the national team. I trust and believe in everyone. This is a new season, a different squad, and within our ideas we find solutions, and they respond.”

Luis Suárez’s performance
“He had a great start to the season, and you don’t need to just look at today’s hat-trick to see that. From the beginning, the connection he has with the team is evident. He is fulfilling the expectations we had when we signed him. I have no doubt that he will have an era-defining time here. He understood what he needs to do to help the team and then the team help him.”

Maxi Araújo's response to playing higher up the field
“He's been responding well; not just in this game. I think he has four goals and an assist. For his national team he plays as a winger, which is different, but he plays. He's adapted very well to the team's dynamics and offers us fantastic things, and that's why he scores goals. He provides an attacking depth, for example, that 'Pote' doesn't do as often, He's a player with extraordinary commitment and energy and embodies Sporting CP's values, both in terms of his quality and attitude. Nothing surprises me about him.”

SL Benfica's draw in Braga
“I want us to be first. I don't want to be third. So I look at the first and I know that, now, we're two points behind and we have to do our part to get there. I don't look at third place, I look at first place. The second half of the season has many games in it, a lot can still happen, but we have to do our part.”

Eduardo Quaresma's chances of going to the World Cup
“The national team coach has to decide, but clearly, based on what he's been doing, he's national team player quality. He's taken advantage of Diomande and Zeno [Debast]'s absence, biding his time, but we believe in him a lot and he's been having great games. I'm happy for him and hope he continues like this. He's grown a lot, and even in his day-to-day work, he's more mature and rigorous.”

A January packed with games
“The schedule is what it is. January will be even tougher than December. We're going to play in the Taça da Liga and the players want to play in another final. They just want to play, and for me it's more difficult because we haven't been able to rest some of them as much as we'd like -but we have to deal with that. I look at things one game at a time, but I think the month of January won't dictate anything in terms of the outcome of the league. There are still many games to play.”

Sporting CP becoming the team he has managed for the most games
“It’s always special. I’m at a great club, where I was Liga Portugal champion, won the Taça de Portugal, and where I’m very happy.”

Commitment to young players from the academy
“Everyone is prepared to respond. Flávio gives us very unique things, Blopa too, and they are players who have been with us more when we've had absences, but there are many more on the B team who can be called up. The B team are having a great season and they have to remain humble to get more opportunities. We believe that in the future they will be important at Sporting CP.”