The coach previews a busy week of action for Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal host CD Nacional this Sunday at 6pm, on Liga Portugal Matchday 20. In his pre-match press conference, Rui Borges talked about the fixture.

Analysis of CD Nacional
"Tiago Margarido has done a great job for them. For us coaches, and in this case for him, to be in charge of CD Nacional for a hundredth game -he must be the active coach in the league who has been at the same club the longest- it's something to be commended. They are a good team, very strong when making fast attacks and offensive transitions, and Gabriel Veron has added quality to that. Away from home, they have four defeats, but always by the narrowest of margins; they played very well against FC Porto and won in Braga, which clearly shows the quality we will encounter with them. They are a competitive team, strong in the duels, and they commit some fouls that demonstrate the intensity with which they approach games. They are strong on offensive set pieces and in Madeira we conceded a goal from that. After the UEFA Champions League, making a change of mindset is always difficult, but the ambition is there, and the motivation too. I believe we will have a great game against a good team."

Focus on the league after a European Top-8 finish
"I'm in charge of a great group, who know that games after the UEFA Champions League are difficult, due to physical and mental exhaustion. Only a great team can fight against this and maintain the same quality and intensity of play. This is a challenge for us as a team. I believe in the responsibility of the group, who know that we have to win, and that we will give everything to do so against an organised and competitive team, with the help of our fans. Our ambition, will to win and fight for the title will overcome all the difficulties that may exist in the game. I am happy for all the Portuguese teams for their success in Europe. It gives value to our football and our position in the ranking, where we have overtaken the Netherlands. Congratulations to all the teams that managed to qualify. It's good for all of us."

The squad and transfer market
"I want to use my entire squad. If someone has to leave, they will leave, whether it's Alisson [Santos] or someone else. It's a credit to the whole team, which has increased in value because of everything we have done throughout the season -in Europe and domestically-, and for the collective and individual quality we have demonstrated. These supposed departures and arrivals are natural, and I deal with it well. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sporting CP are above any player and any coach. I need everyone and I want everyone available, but when one player is missing, there are others to come in. Alisson is called up for tomorrow, he's a Sporting CP player and, therefore, I won't elaborate much further on that."

Luis Suárez and Pedro Gonçalves risking receiving fifth yellow cards
"They will come into the match without any restrictions. I'm looking at CD Nacional, I want to win the next game and that's what matters to me. They will both play, they are options, they know the responsibility better than anyone and the fact that they have four yellow cards, but it's pointless to think about FC Porto if we don't beat CD Nacional. Then, in Porto, whoever is available will give the best response."

Players unavailable
"Gonçalo Inácio is in the squad for tomorrow. Fotis Ioannidis is still out. We can bring in Souleymane Faye now. Zeno Debast is out; it's not a problem, it's just us managing the injury he had. We don't want him at 70%, we want him at 100%, because we need him in this final stretch of the season."

Different options on the wings
"They are all different. [Souleymane] Faye gives us different things than Alisson, Luís Guilherme and Geny [Catamo]. They are two very promising players that we went after. We believe a lot in the potential of both.
 I don't look at a player just in terms of his shot or the goals he scores. We have to look at several things. Alisson, for example, has enormous potential, but it's necessary to understand the context and how much he has to grow. We sign players mainly for our league games, as those are the important ones, and the performance has to be high, especially there. That's our first focus. Of course, we want them to do well in every game, but they all have to improve in some areas. Alisson, in decision-making against low blocks, because he doesn't have as much space, while in the UEFA Champions League he can go one-on-one. Faye plays deeper and goes further up without the ball more than anyone else. They are very dynamic players and, above all, different. This increases the quality we have, plus the team's strategy and strategic options throughout the games."

The most important week of the season
"The team always have an inherent responsibility. It's an important week, like all the others. I understand the question, because access to the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal is at stake; we are in second place in the league and we have that responsibility, but Sporting CP aren't happy with just a cup; we want to fight for everything. We are in these fights and we will do everything to continue. We will play the league leaders away from home, but it's a game like any other. First, we have to beat CD Nacional, so as not to let that gap widen, and then we'll think about AVS, and only then about FC Porto."