The coach reviews the win over Casa Pia AC

Following the 3-0 victory at home against Casa Pia AC, Rui Borges analysed the match in his post-match press conference, highlighting the welcome returns of Daniel Bragança and Geny Catamo.

Match Analysis
"In the first half, we lacked a certain amount of energy, especially since here we usually start very strong and intense. Casa Pia AC were good in the first ten minutes, creating discomfort for our defence, and then we balanced the game out. We needed to be a little more dynamic on the wings, but the goal gave us that confidence. We started to be more aggressive in provoking the Casa Pia AC defence, which is strong in duels, and we needed to create openings to find spaces for the players who had the ball.

In the second half, we controlled play from start to finish; Casa Pia AC looked for longer balls, deflections and deep attacks, but our defensive line was very good. I think it was a fair result considering how the match unfolded."

Luís Guilherme's debut
"He had a good, competent game, and he will improve with time. He's a young man, he's 19 years old, he's very intelligent, he likes to learn and understands quickly, and in the future he will be very important."

Daniel Bragança
"I'm happy. He's a captain who has come back after a difficult injury. I've always seen an enormous desire to return from him, and he's always very optimistic and resilient. He has always responded very well, grew on all levels, and today was the reward for a week of hard work. He added a lot of quality to the team and that doesn't surprise me or anyone else."

The transfer market
"I don't think anyone will leave. I'm happy with the squad and I'll be even happier when I have everybody available. The team are clearly stronger; we're always making adjustments, and no matter how much quality we have, we lose dynamism and intensity at times. There isn't much time to acquire new habits, but the team have given me a huge response and I'm very happy to be in charge. Now, it's about trying to get everyone back to their best as quickly as possible."

Pressure in the second half of the season
"It doesn't make things difficult at all, because of the team's spirit, the feeling of ambition... we are focused only and solely on ourselves. We have to do our job well. We had a good first half of the season, FC Porto had an extraordinary first half, and we have to have a better second half than the first. If whoever is ahead continues to do what they are doing, it's to their credit, but we have to think about what we control, go game by game, and then wait and see. But before waiting, we have to do our bit, which is to win our games."

Returns after the African Cup of Nations
"I'm very happy to have Geny back. He was in great form before going away and he came back with the same confidence. He's a very important player. As for Ousmane Diomande, I hope he comes back as soon as possible."

Returns of Zeno Debast and Ricardo Mangas
"I'm happy. Zeno needs time, and Mangas doesn't anymore. I hope the guys who are out are near to coming back. I want to have everyone available and the team will become more capable of overcoming what's ahead if that happens. I hope Pedro Gonçalves can return against FC Arouca, I can't say for sure if Ousmane Diomande will be available against Paris Saint Germain. Fotis Ioannidis's return also depends a lot on the day-to-day assessment and we don't have a date for that."

Playing with two left-footed centre-backs
"It's a matter of mentality. Playing with two right-footed centre-backs is normal, so why not with two left-footed ones? We're just not used to it happening, but I think it will happen more and more in the future. Yesterday I was jokingly saying in training, because we play with two left-footed centre-backs and two right-footed full-backs, that in a few years we'll see full-backs with their feet crossed because it brings other perspectives to the game in decision-making. Football is becoming increasingly revolutionary in terms of creating alternatives to overcome the most organised teams. But for me it doesn't change anything. Inácio's passing quality is extraordinary, whether he's playing on the left or the right. Mainly has to do with his individual quality."

Geny Catamo's best season to date
"He has already been important. It has to do with the confidence we gave him. Trincão is having a great season, Pote was also having a good one, Luís is having a good season, Morten is even better than last year, and that enhances their value. That's what we want: to win but also to increase their value. Within the collective, they are growing more and more because they have the coach's confidence to make mistakes, to try, and it's normal that they fail because they take more risks than the others."