The coach previews the game against Rio Ave FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal travels to Vila do Conde this Monday to, where they will face Rio Ave FC on the penultimate matchday in Liga Portugal.

Coach Rui Borges spoke to journalists in his press conference before the game.

Analysis of Rio Ave FC
“Above all, we have to be a Sporting CP side that demand a lot from ourselves. We need to understand that we are still fighting for second place, we have three games left to finish the season and a Taça de Portugal final to play. It is very important to create this individual demand to overcome a Rio Ave FC who, despite not having achieved the best results in recent games, have had a very good second half of the season.

They are a team with their place in the league guaranteed for next season, who have nothing to lose, and who added good players in the January transfer window -players who have given them growth both defensively and offensively. They are a very strong team on the counter-attack, very physical and competitive.

We will certainly have difficulties. Personally, I have really enjoyed watching Rio Ave FC in many games, because they have clearly improved compared to the first half of the season. A difficult game awaits us, but I repeat: We have to create individual and collective demands of ourselves at the end of this season, especially since we still have objectives to achieve.”

The transfer market
“In recent days, there’s been more talk about the transfer market than anything else. I’m not going to talk about players from other clubs. I have three games ahead of me and I’m competing for clear objectives. It seems like we’re in June or July; it doesn’t make sense to give my opinion on any players now, because I’m very focused on our objective.

It’s natural that people ask, but these are players who are at other clubs and we don’t know what the future holds regarding departures, let alone arrivals. Personally, I’m very focused on the last three games, which still have a lot at stake, and we can’t let our guard down. We’ve already let our guard down enough. I’m focused on what we have to achieve.”

Leadership challenges in a dressing room
“At big clubs, the difficulty is very much linked to the daily management of so many human beings. It’s not just players, but staff and everything involved in a football club. Knowing how to manage the egos of players with careers that speak for themselves is sometimes quite difficult. (…)

That's why I say so often that the greatest boost a coach can have is to look at the group and feel that everyone respects each other and sees quality in each other. Each player, in their own way, adds something, and everyone believes in everyone else's potential. Nobody stands out above the rest or tries to do so. As Sporting CP, I am fortunate to have a group that respects each other a lot. This is very important and also part of the coaching staff's job.

In technical terms, there are many good coaches, but gaining the respect of the players, getting them to believe and getting them onside is the great difficulty for a coach today. Sometimes, and it's part of the process, it's not possible to do it.”

Analysis of Diogo Travassos' season
“He's had a great season and everything indicates that he will have to come back to Sporting CP at the beginning of next season. He’s had a season with goals and assists, many games on the wing -a position that isn't his natural one. He’s enjoyed two very good seasons in the Primeira Liga, which is important for gaining consistency. He has that ability to earn the right to be with us.”

Daniel Bragança's contract renewal
“Dani is a captain, a leader, important to the group, and has a contract with Sporting CP. His renewal doesn't depend solely on the coach. There's the board and the player too, many factors have to combine.

For now, he's a player that we all like and that we want to have in the squad. We're planning to have him for next season, it’s as simple as that. Regarding any renewal: In due time, we'll see if it happens or not.”

Managing transfer rumours with objectives until the end of the season
“We’re demanding accountability, focus, rigour, professionalism. In these last 15 days, the biggest difficulty is keeping a team that were fighting for everything and know that they can no longer be champions motivated. In a phase of great mental exhaustion -even more than physical-, keeping them at the same pace and with the same rigour is a big challenge.

It’s natural that motivation has dropped a little after those less positive results. I am also worn out from so many press conferences and so much travel. As much as we like our jobs, it’s been many months at a maximum level of demand and it's natural that, not being able to change our main objective, they feel the fatigue.

Second place is extremely important to us and they know that. It’s difficult for them to feel at 100% in terms of energy. I don't know if it's possible, but it has to be close, at least, for us to still achieve our goals.”

Attention to fitness in future signings
“We always pay attention to the physical aspect in relation to any signing. They are all studied in depth and perhaps that is even the first parameter. But there are things we don't control, it's impossible. I believe that in the future, clubs may have 50 players, given the number of games.

Given the trauma injuries we’ve had, we were left cast adrift at decisive moments, but Sporting CP do not have the financial capacity to have 50 players of the same level. What we can control is that all the physical data of any player who enters the club is thoroughly examined right from the start.”

His future squad
“It's natural that qualifying for the UEFA Champions League could change something, because the financial aspect plays a part and you can't escape that. But whether we make a revolution or not, it’s something that the market will dictate. We have all the current players, except for [Hidemasa] Morita, under contract. There are players who may want to take a different direction in their careers, but they won't leave just like that. Everyone has a buyout clause, so the market will dictate what happens.

We have a squad defined in my image, which will adjust as players leave, be it in one position or another. We are always attentive and cautious, thanks to the work done by the scouting department.”