The coach previews the meeting with AFS in the Taça de Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal face AFS on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Taça de Portugal.

Coach Rui Borges answered journalists' questions about the match in a press conference on the eve of the contest.

Playing against AFS
"The second half of the season was always going to be increasingly difficult, because the teams need the points. The team have had this understanding in these last few games and will approach the game against AFS in this way. We have to give our all to overcome AFS; there is no other option, especially since it decides a spot in the semifinals of the cup. The difficulty will increase in the coming months and we have to be serious and focused from beginning to end. AFS may be struggling in the league, but this game could put them in the semifinals of the Taça de Portugal, and they will have extra motivation."

"It's a different game compared to the league meeting. We've been observing their coach more closely, and the team seem more compact and competitive, despite the results. AFS have been varying their formation, and I believe they will try to have a good game tomorrow. I expect some changes compared to the starting eleven from the last match, partly due to the amount of rest they have had between games. We are prepared, knowing that in the cup dreams come true, and we have to be able to stay focused to prevent surprises and fight until the end for something we achieved last season."

Morten Hjulmand
"I'm not going to say anything more. I already spoke at the end of the last game. I said he was going to play, and he will start tomorrow."

"There's no problem. He's a great captain, leader, and role model. The group look up to him, believe in him, and trust him, and it will continue like this. He will be a starter and our captain. Everything is normal. I have a great captain."

Confidence from the club
"The confidence is total. We're always in sync. There's a lot of trust and dialogue from day one."

Goals near the end of games
"Luck takes work to arrive. Our fans should be happy with the four wins we've taken. We are still ten goals in the last 15 minutes short of last season's number. The game is played until the final whistle and the team are showing that confidence is high. We know the games will be difficult, but they believe so much and the group is so strong that we end up, as many say, happy to score in the last minutes. Perhaps in the initial phase of the season we were scoring many goals in the first ten minutes. Now, we are scoring some in the final part of the game. I am happy that we have been scoring goals for 33 games straight, which demonstrates the team's ambition."

The game between Casa Pia and FC Porto
"I saw it in parts because we are going to face FC Porto in the next league matchday. It will be tough for those who are lower down the table and the points will be very hard to come by. Regardless of whether it's Sporting CP, FC Porto or SL Benfica, the games are difficult. SL Benfica had difficulties [with CD Tondela] and we also had difficulties to win against CD Nacional. I have said several times that no one game will dictate anything. Everything changes very quickly, and the teams are becoming stronger and more competitive.

Fotis Ioannidis, Nuno Santos, and Zeno Debast
"Fotis and Debast are out. Nuno may come into the squad."

The number 10 spot
"The difficulties we've faced have given us solutions with more players and more positions, and that makes the team stronger. Individually, they grow as players by responding in various positions."

Francisco Trincão
"Last season, I said he was one of the players who surprised me the most. He's a very different kind of player. He's extraordinary, and he responds wherever he plays. I will be very happy if the contract renewal happens: For him and for Sporting CP and for us coaches. He's an extraordinary player and doesn't need to wear an armband to show that. He has always responded and is one of the few players who, fortunately, hasn't had long-term injuries. He always comes through for the team, even in difficult times. He takes responsibility and doesn't hide. He exemplifies what it means to be a leader."

Changes in the starting lineup
"There may be one or two changes, it's inevitable. It's part of the game, it's natural, and I've shown the confidence I have in everyone. The players know this and respond.They're focused. I'm very calm about my decisions for tomorrow's game."

Squad depth
"What we've done so far answers everything about depth. Just look at our performance in any competition and you'll see that the team have responded and will continue to respond. When they don't, it will be because the opposition are better than us, and that's part of the game. We're not machines, we're human, but the commitment will always be there."