Coates on extending his stay in Alvalade

Sebastián Coates was a largely unknown name for many Sporting fans when arriving at Alvalade this January, but the backing given by fellow Uruguayan and former teammate at Liverpool, Luís Suárez, has certainly rung true: "A player like Sebastián brings lot of quality to a team. I am certain he will be a great signing." Since arriving in the Portuguese capital, Sabastián truly has bossed the Sporting defence in an intimidating double-team with Rúben Semedo.

"All players dream of playing for a club that is fighting for titles, with ambitious objectives, and that made the difference for me", said Coates in an interview with the Sporting website after signing his loan extension, before adding a word on his odd forays forward: "Personally, my role is to defend, but If I can help in attack then I will."

Jorge Jesus' focus on defence has actually taken the Uruguayan by surprise, considering that goals are need to turn in wins. However, the final result can of course be decided by good defending. "The coach worries a lot about how we defend. Of course goals are needed to win, but he really worries about getting us all defending. Not every coach does that and it makes a big difference", said the defensive giant, finishing: "This is a great club with fans who are always pushing the players. I want to do my best for this shirt for us to get the results that we all want."

Alvalade president sits down with the Sporting president ahead of league showdown

You have to go back 42 years for the last time that Sporting and Benfica took the title race down to the last match of the season. It was in 1974, when millions waited for the final whistle. History isn't on Sporting's side, with the league leaders going into the decisive fixture tending to hold out and take the trophy, however Bruno de Carvalho sees things a little differently.

“Going into the last match of the season, we are two points behind first place. Of course it isn't the place we would prefer to be in and of course we would like to be in first. However, we are completely focused and we know anything could happen. That is what makes football such a beautiful game. While it is mathematically possible, anything can happen", commented the Alvalade president in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week, adding: "What I see is a Sporting team focused on our match and that believes that we can bring home a title that we have been missing for so long now. We will do everything we can to do that."

Sporting's hopes of silverware after the dust settles this weekend does however not just depend on what happens in Estádio Municipal de Braga. Meanwhile in Lisbon, Benfica will host Nacional, with Sporting needing the team from Madeira to at least steal a point.

“Looking at Benfica-Nacional, well from what I have seen and heard it seems like Nacional doesn't count for anything. It seems like Nacional doesn't care. That if what I have felt when listening to commentators associated with Benfica, but honestly I don't believe it", affirmed Carvalho, continuing: "Nacional are a good side and I don't think they want to be the side show for the league title. I know how hard Rui Alves has been working to put Nacional on the map and they are fighting for places further up the league now. Of course Benfica are motivated, because winning gives them the league, but Nacional are motivated as well."

The coach reflects on an incredible 2-1 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain

Following the victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal against Paris Saint-Germain, coach Rui Borges spoke in a press conference to review the game.

His analysis of the performance
"It's the feeling of a job well done. It was a great victory. These were three difficult points to get against a great team. We had many difficulties throughout the 90 minutes, but we were able to have what I asked for: Cohesion and passion. We knew we would suffer against the reigning European champions, the best team in Europe. They have a lot of individual and collective quality. We had to suffer in a first half in which we had difficulties getting our play together. We came out with a more audacious approach in the second half. I didn't talk to the players much at halftime. The substitutions helped and we forced Paris Saint-Germain to run back. We had some luck with the goals, but that’s part of the audacity we had.

I thank our fans for the energy they gave us. They were very important to us; they were the twelfth man. It was difficult, but we had to believe and it was beautiful to see the whole crowd at the end of the game. I’d love it to always happen, not just in the UEFA Champions League. The players deserve the applause they received, and not just today. I want to make an appeal to the fans: In these last months of the season, their support will be very important. May this spirit of victory, unity and belief be maintained."

Luis Suárez
"We knew what he would give us. It doesn't surprise us. We knew his characteristics, personality, and character. Today we needed him, and I said so before the game. It was going to be a game similar to the one in Munich against Bayern, where he did very well. Today he did an extraordinary job, as he has done in every game. The two goals are a credit to the team -not just to him."

Statements by Luis Enrique
"I understand what he’s saying. They had a great game. Besides the disallowed goals, they had some opportunities and were on top of us, but there's the other side to things. Football features various strategies. In our league, we also play against teams with a low defensive line. The team were fantastic, as we had been in Munich. We were very focused and, in the second half, we were more daring within our capabilities, I couldn't ask for more from our team."

The impact of the victory
"Today we are talked up as the best, tomorrow we could be talked about as the worst. We deserve the joy that comes with these three points, and the players made history for Sporting CP, but we have to prepare for the game against FC Arouca."

The transfer market
"Souleymane Faye, who hasn't been presented yet, has already signed and, like Luís Guilherme, is a player for the future. They are two young players in whom we recognise value. We strongly believe in what they can bring to Sporting CP."

The UEFA Champions League
"Our ambition to reach the Round of 16 stems from having two fewer games on the fixture list. If we don't get there, nothing erases what the team did today and in all the other games.

I have my feet on the ground and I'm looking at it game by game. I’m happy to have beaten the European champions. We haven't been able to train much because we have many games, but the team have responded well. We're only thinking about the next one. If we win, we'll be part of Sporting CP's history and that's what we have to focus on.

We have achieved our first objective of getting through the league phase. Now, we want to go straight into the Round of 16. That's all -nothing else changes."

Different strategy
"Sporting CP and the players are aware of the reality. We recognise the value of the opposition. We can't compare Paris Saint-Germain with the teams in our league. We knew we would struggle. Sporting CP can't always be on top of the opponents, pressing, and enjoying many scoring chances. Today we had only a few and we had to make the most of them, which is what happened."

Big games
"I don’t think people will say anymore that I don't beat big teams. I don't care about that, it's just noise. I focus on our work, as that's the best response."

Game preparation
"Since we have so many games, it's about resting, watching videos and taking advantage of the little time we have to train to explain some behaviours. We focus on the simple things. There are things we don't change and then we add something individual and strategic. The preparation hasn't changed at all compared to other games. It's about making them realise that these are games where we won't have as much possession and they have to believe that it's part of the game. If we are focused, we will be able to demonstrate that we are a good side. That was a little lacking in the first half."

Whether it was the best victory of his career
"No, that was against Vitória SC last season, when we won the title."

Confidence
"A victory gives us more confidence for the rest of the season and to face the upcoming games, which are difficult. The most difficult will be in Arouca. As Pote said, Liga Portugal is our Champions League."

Strategy
"Paris Saint-Germain must be the strongest team in terms of reacting to losing possession and in defensive transitions. They are very intense. Hence the importance of Luis Suárez, with whom we managed to link up many times in the first half. He did a spectacular job. What we lacked, however, was taking the next step. We had that difficulty because they are very intense. If we had had more of that ability, I believe we would have created more problems for Paris Saint-Germain."

Two strikes from Luis Suárez provide a brilliant victory

Sporting Clube de Portugal enjoyed a momentous night in Europe against Paris Saint-Germain, beating the reigning Champions League holders 2-1 at home to earn qualification for the next phase of the competition. In what was one of their all-time best performances in the continental tournament, the team first went ahead through Luis Suárez, then saw the striker score his second in the 90th minute to snatch the victory.

The duel -in front of a sellout crowd at the Estádio José Alvalade- featured two changes to coach Rui Borges' starting lineup: Georgios Vagiannidis and Luís Guilherme were replaced by Ricardo Mangas and Maxi Araújo.

The game was also notable for being the return of former Sporting CP player Nuno Mendes in a PSG shirt, and he received a standing ovation before kickoff.

Paris Saint-Germain showed their intentions from the start, dominating possession and also exerting a level of pressure that prevented Sporting CP from creating chances. For the French side, Désiré Doué missed the target, Fabián Ruiz's effort was saved safely by Rui Silva, and Senny Mayulu's attempt, from a looping shot, also lacked precision.

Rui Silva was called into action again in the ninth minute, off another attack by Vitinha, and in the 13th minute, keeping out a powerful shot from Nuno Mendes.

Sporting CP continued to try to take advantage of opportunities despite the onslaught, and before the end of the first quarter of an hour, João Simões broke free on the counter and shot into the side netting.

For the visitors, Vitinha and Marquinhos both struck wide, and whilst PSG were still controlling play, they were not doing so with as much intensity as before.

Luis Enrique's team did have the ball in the net on the half-hour, with a header from Warren Zaïre-Emery. However, a foul on Geny Catamo in the buildup meant the goal was disallowed.

Besides Luis Suárez's shot inside the area that was blocked by the defence, another goal correctly disallowed for Paris Saint-Germain (this time for Nuno Mendes), and a spark from Geny Catamo well saved by Willian Pacho, momentum dipped close to the halftime break.

The last move before the interval was a free kick from the right taken by Maxi Araújo, from which the ball fell to Hidemasa Morita. He shot wide, and the score remained 0-0.

Sporting CP came back out playing more convincingly, although it was Paris Saint-Germain who threatened first, in the 51st minute, from Vitinha.

Then, Francisco Trincão, in a transition down the right, picked out Luis Suárez, but the Colombian striker missed connecting with the ball by centimetres when he was in a good position. Soon after, Trincão received a pass from Geny Catamo, but put his effort wide.

In response, another goal was disallowed for the French side – this time for offside by Ousmane Dembélé – and a direct free kick from Nuno Mendes went wide. Past the hour, a great save by Rui Silva from an Ousmane Dembélé piledriver kept things goalless.

Rui Borges made his first substitution in the final half-hour, replacing Ricardo Mangas with Georgios Vagiannidis, and Sporting CP came close to opening the scoring again shortly after, but Geny Catamo's attempt -set up by Francisco Trincão– went into the hands of goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

Désiré Doué shot over the crossbar at 68', but by then it was Sporting CP who were playing better. Five minutes later, Geny Catamo sent a pass to Luis Suárez, but a defender cleared for a corner.

From that corner, the opening goal was scored: The set piece was taken by Araújo, the defence cleared and a shot by Catamo deflected off Vagiannidis, with the ball falling to Luis Suárez. The centre forward reacted quickest to slot the ball home and make it 1-0.

The ecstasy was short-lived, however, as Paris Saint-Germain managed to equalise in the 79th minute thanks to a shot from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The game became less intense in the final minutes, and opportunities also became increasingly rare. To try and give a final push in the fight for victory, Rui Borges made two changes in the 87th minute, bringing on Daniel Bragança and Alisson Santos.

The best was saved for the 90th minute, and a tremendous moment for Sporting CP. Alisson Santos found Trincão, whose firm drive forced a save from Lucas Chevalier. In the right place at the right time, Suárez knocked the rebound into the back of the net, to a huge roar from the crowd.

The 2-1 result was a triumph of belief and persistence, and earned a massively important three points for Sporting CP.

The team play again this Saturday in Liga Portugal, visiting FC Arouca. Next week, on January 28th, they travel to Bilbao to face Athletic Club on the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League's league stage.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda, Gonçalo Inácio [C], Matheus Reis, Ricardo Mangas (Georgios Vagiannidis, 63'), Hidemasa Morita, João Simões (Daniel Bragança, 87'), Geny Catamo (Alisson Santos, 87'), Francisco Trincão (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 90+5'), Maxi Araújo and Luis Suárez.

The coach analyses the meeting with Paris Saint Germain

Rui Borges spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of the seventh matchday in the UEFA Champions League, in which Sporting Clube de Portugal host the current European champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

Preview of the match
“Sporting CP, not only in home games but also away, have shown what we're capable of, our ideas and our personality. I hope we are able to do that again against a great team -perhaps the best in Europe, because they won the competition last season.

We also had the 'good fortune' that the draw pitted us against two of the three best teams in Europe, in PSG and FC Bayern Munich. I would add Arsenal FC to that list as well. This has to be, above all, a source of pride and enormous motivation to face the best and show that we are at that level.”

Facing PSG being the biggest challenge of his career
"What challenged me the most was the first day I came to this club. Every day here is my biggest challenge and the happiest day of my life. I'm at a big club and every day I have to try to be better, to win more and provide more history for Sporting CP.

Facing the best in Europe is, of course, a great source of motivation for the coaching staff and the players, to show that we are capable of competing with the best, both collectively and individually. However, the biggest challenge is me being the head coach of Sporting CP."

The return of Pedro Gonçalves and Ousmane Diomande
"Pote and Diomande may be available, although I'm not sure yet, for the game in Arouca."

Absentees
"Zeno [Debast] is back, Dani [Bragança] is back, and little by little players are returning to make the team more capable and stronger. For Tuesday, above all, a lot of courage is needed to face the best team in collective and individual terms.

Any player I put in will be highly motivated to give a response and help the team. Not only in the UEFA Champions League, but in all the competitions we are in, we have shown the greatness of this team. Tuesday will be the same. We will play with 11 and, above all, the group has shown that everyone is a solution, everyone is a great player. When a teammate fails, the others are even more motivated to show that we are a real team and that we are together."

European performances bringing confidence
"The team have given a tremendous response in the UEFA Champions League games. They've shown great maturity. We're playing at home, where we've won and where we've already faced good teams. Now, we're going to face a great side: the team with the most possession in the UEFA Champions League this season, who hold practically every statistical record in their league, and who have scored the most goals, along with Borussia Dortmund.

They are a very strong team in reacting to losing possession, winning the ball a lot in the attacking midfield and scoring many goals from there. We have to understand how to create danger against PSG, because I believe they will look at us with respect for everything we've done in the UEFA Champions League and in domestic competitions."

The team being viewed differently by opponents
"I believe that's the case. This only motivates us to continue demonstrating that we are good as a team. Regardless of the opponents, we respect whoever is up against us, but we approach this match with enormous motivation. We want clubs to look at us differently, and I think they have been doing so. This is thanks to the players, because of everything they have been capable of in these two years -but especially this year, which is the one that is our responsibility.

We are a great Sporting CP side, where the collective is the star of the team. It's the collective that makes the individual stand out. That's what we want to show. We know what PSG are capable of, but we also know that they respect us and that we are a great team who are highly motivated. The fans will be very important at all times. We need to continue to be very courageous, but above all very responsible."

Defensive solidity at Alvalade
"Sporting CP have proven to be a great team, not only defensively but also offensively. I believe it will be a great game between two teams that like to win and have a high percentage of goals, which demonstrates the quality of both of us. We know that they have some of the best players in the world in their positions, and it will be a challenge to neutralise that individual talent. Football is increasingly decided by inspiration, and we have to be able to neutralise that."

The standings
"I will focus only on Tuesday's game. Then we will see what we are capable of. We will soon see the consequence of our ability in this game and, later, we will think about Athletic Club. I don't make calculations ahead of time."

Different defensive organisation
"Our defensive organisation in Munich wasn't different. Edu [Quaresma] played as a right-back, not as a centre-back. He gave us other characteristics, but we didn't change tactically. We faced a great team that forced us to drop back more often as a unit, something that isn't so common. I believe that PSG, being a very possession-based and dynamic team, with midfielders without fixed positions, like Vitinha and Ousmane Dembélé, will make it difficult for us to activate the pressure at certain moments.

They will force us to drop back more often to a medium-low block, but not because of a change in our tactics, but because of their quality. What we are doesn't change, only some strategic individual behaviours. The opponents push us further back, and that's why, sometimes, the five-man defence is so dangerous."

Alvalade as a decisive factor
"I believe that Luis Enrique has analysed our home games in the UEFA Champions League, but also the away games, because we have given great responses and great demonstrations of our collective and individual ideas and quality. What we have been able to do has been demonstrated throughout the season.

In the UEFA Champions League, we have grown in maturity because the responsibility increases, and a small slipup changes everything. Above all, the team are committed, courageous, and confident."

The Mozambican looks at the game against PSG

Geny Catamo previewed Sporting CP's seventh UEFA Champions League fixture of the season, in which they will face the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

Expectations for the game
"We know it will be a difficult and important game, because we are playing at home and we have an obligation to win. Having PSG as opponents will be interesting throughout the game, because they are a side with great players. Playing at home is always special, especially because we have the Sporting CP fans getting behind us as we go in search of victory."

Facing Nuno Mendes
"I've never come up against Nuno Mendes, but as I said, PSG have great players, including Nuno. We're great friends, and the matchup will be interesting. He's in good form, and it will be a pleasure to face one of the best full-backs in the world. I will give my all to help the team achieve victory."

His possible contract renewal 
"What makes me happy is representing Sporting CP. For me, the focus is not on the renewal, but on Tuesday's game and representing Sporting CP whenever I can."

The possibility of a win
"I believe it will be a magical night, as it's a UEFA Champions League game against a great team. There will be a good atmosphere, with the support of all of the Sporting CP fans at the stadium or at home, and we will all feel that energy to go for it against PSG and try to take the three points."

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."

Sporting CP claim a 3-0 home win in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated Casa Pia AC 3-0 on Liga Portugal Matchday 18, as Geny Catamo scored twice and Daniel Bragança added a third late on.

For the first game at the Estádio José Alvalade in 2026, Rui Borges gave Luís Guilherme his maiden start in the league, whilst also welcoming back Gonçalo Inácio, Hidemasa Morita, Geny Catamo and Georgios Vagiannidis to the first XI.

Zeno Debast was also back available, almost three months after the injury he sustained in the match against Olympique Marseille. Bragança, who had already been included in the squad for the match against Vitória SC, was still looking for his first minutes back, although had tested the waters with an appearance for the Sporting CP B team.

Before the opening whistle, the Sporting CP Legends, who last weekend were crowned champions of the Taça da Liga Legends, took to the pitch to receive applause from the fans.

When the game got underway, Iván Fresneda played on the left, Matheus Reis partnering up with captain Gonçalo Inácio. Casa Pia AC had the first shot of the contest, albeit without troubling Rui Silva in goal.

Debuting Casa Pia AC coach had his team organised and daring on the pitch, demonstrating from the start their intention to make life difficult for Sporting CP.

On nine minutes, in another very quick counter-attack, Casa Pia players again made a move upfield, but Iván Fresneda made a quick interception, deflecting Jérémy Livolant's shot.

Sporting CP managed to breach the defence for the first time on 14 minutes, following a direct free kick taken by Luis Suárez. In the 17th minute, a shot from outside the area by João Simões also went harmlessly over.

On 20 minutes, the Suárez tried his luck again, with another direct free kick from the left that went wide. On 27 minutes, a good combination between Francisco Trincão and Fresneda saw the latter head off target by a matter of centimetres.

The first great move of the match came after the half-hour mark and caused a huge roar from the stands. On 35 minutes, Trincão found Suárez and, with a powerful run, he left an opponent behind before setting up Luís Guilherme. The Brazilian stretched to the fullest, but couldn't turn the ball into the empty net.

The opening goal came soon afterwards. Back after participating in the African Cup of Nations, Geny Catamo made an impact by single-handedly breaking the deadlock: He received the ball from Trincão, cut inside and placed a shot out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, in the 43rd minute, he got his second. Inácio found the winger, and Catamo slotted the ball past Patrick Sequeira to make it 2-0.

It was the visitors who started the second half better. Not even a minute had passed before Cassiano and Jérémy Livolant combined at speed near the area. The Frenchman's shot didn't go far wide. Trincão's effort at the other end, following up from a Sequeira save, was also off target.

Both teams only created danger: Tiago Morais popped up in a central position and shot, forcing a safe intervention from Rui Silva.

On 65th minutes, after eleven months out, Daniel Bragança stepped onto the pitch to mark his return to first team action.

Playing at a slower pace, Sporting CP continued to dominate the match, and Bragança had an opportunity with a volley that Sequeira saved.

He would get his happy ending moments later, in the 79th minute, after a mistake in transition from the visitors. Suárez passed to the returning midfielder, and Bragança struck the ball through Patrick Sequeira's legs to score.

There was still time for more good news for Rui Borges. In the 82nd minute, Zeno Debast came back from injury, brought on by the coach in a triple substitution along with Giorgi Kochorashvili and Alisson Santos. The Brazilian had another opportunity to extend the lead, already in stoppage time, when he dribbled past a defender on the right and shot powerfully into the side netting.

With the game entering stoppage time, Clau Mendes received a red card and, with a numerical advantage in the four additional minutes, Sporting CP ran down the clock for a 3-0 win.

The team next host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, on Tuesday at 8pm.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Matheus Reis (Zeno Debast, 82’), Hidemasa Morita, Geny Catamo (Alisson Santos, 82’), Georgios Vagiannidis (Ricardo Mangas, 65’), Francisco Trincão, Iván Fresneda, Gonçalo Inácio, Luís Guilherme (Daniel Bragança, 65’), João Simões (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 82’) and Luis Suárez. Coach: Rui Borges.

The coach looks at the game against Casa Pia AC

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Casa Pia AC on Friday in their latest Liga Portugal fixture, and coach Rui Borges gave a pre-match press conference to analyse the challenge ahead.

Casa Pia AC
"The change of coach they've made makes the game more difficult tactically. Álvaro Pacheco has already employed several formations and dynamics. It's always difficult to say how Casa Pia AC will set up, so we can't focus too much on that. They are a very competitive, intense, and strong team in duels, with good players on the counter-attack. They are very competent on the defensive side. We can't stray from what we've done since the beginning of the season to continue growing. We've had some players out, and it's natural that the team lose some intensity due to that."

Jeremiah St. Juste
"He is not part of the Sporting CP first team."

Vitória SC's Taça da Liga victory
"Congratulations to them on the victory and the achievement, for what it means to the fans, the team, the coach, and the structure there. They deserved it, and they did it."

Zeno Debast and Ricardo Mangas
"[Zeno Debast] trained today. He is available, but he had a longer time off. Just like [Ricardo] Mangas, he will be limited in terms of his playing time because he doesn't have the capacity to meet the demands of 90 minutes."

A week of training
"It was a very good week, apart from not being able to be present in a final that we wanted to play. The players had a mandatory and necessary rest. It was possible to train more normally, and the intensity, commitment, and joy in the squad were spectacular. I was happy with the team's response; they have a strong, winning, and ambitious mentality. I needed to feel that. Not because of the defeat, but because of the injuries. For the first time, I was a little down because so many people were out, but the group quickly put a smile back on our faces. Being very positive is my way. I believe that tomorrow we will give a very good response in the game."

Nuno Santos
"You have to go through the stages of recovery. He and everyone else knew that his would take longer. His mentality is extraordinary. The day before yesterday he was already telling me that he would be available in Bilbao. It's good that he's like that, because he gets motivated during a long and difficult time out. He has improved and is closer to returning, but I can't say how much time is left before he comes back. We need him, and he's an important player for the coaching staff and for the group."

Hidemasa Morita and Matheus Reis
"They are two players who are part of our plans, and who will not leave in this transfer window."

Rodrigo Ribeiro
"We listened to his own will. I had a conversation with him and said that I thought that sometimes young players want to take too many steps forward and then disappear. In his case, he emerged early, very young, and the expectation was very high. This season, he understood and accepted our idea. He was a first-team player playing games for the B team and had six fantastic months, in which he grew a lot. I admire him a lot and we didn't want him to leave, but it was his wish. He thinks it's a very good opportunity and I wish him the best of luck. The departure of one player is an opportunity for others, and there are more young players in the B team and the under-23s."

Injuries
"Ousmane Diomande came back injured from international duty and is out of the game. Pedro Gonçalves and Fotis Ioannidis remain out for now. Pote is in the final phase of his rehabilitation and I'm not sure if he will be ready for the game against PSG. For the game against FC Arouca, I believe he will have playing time. Regarding Fotis, it's very much a day-to-day process."

Luís Guilherme
"He's adapted well. He's very intelligent and likes to listen and learn. I think he can give us solutions in various areas of the pitch. From what I understand, he prefers to play on the right, but he's also a solution on the left and in the middle. At SE Palmeiras he played on the right, at West Ham on the left, and at youth level he was a number ten. He has a technical quality that is far above the norm and, in the future, he will be very important at Sporting CP."

The absence of Morten Hjulmand due to suspension
"We have Hidemasa Morita, Giorgi Kochorashvili and Daniel Bragança, all at 100%. Dani is different because he had a long spell out. He's getting minutes to keep improving. He's been improving daily and this week was important for him. He's very important for the team on and off the field. He adds a lot of quality to our dynamic."

Returns from the African Cup of Nations
"Geny Catamo came back well and is ready for the game. Ousmane Diomande's situation is beyond our control; I don't know how long he'll be out."

Sporting CP fans
"I want to send a word of encouragement and affection to our fans, who will be even more important than they have been in supporting the team. Everyone is important, and it's necessary that they believe in us as much as we do. Regardless of what may happen to us, we will try to be as competitive as possible and represent Sporting CP in the best way possible."

The coach reflects on the cup exit

After Sporting CP's elimination in the semi-final of the Taça da Liga, Rui Borges gave a press conference to analyse the match against Vitória SC.

Reaction to the game and the setbacks
"It's difficult. It's something that seems like a study in adversity. Today, for the first time, I feel like that, and I believe the team feel it too: However optimistic we are, it hurts to see so many people out injured. It's not an excuse, however, as in a game where we could have made it 2-0, the opposition ended up believing in themselves in stoppage time and were lucky. That's all."

More pressure
"The pressure is a daily thing at Sporting CP, regardless of whether or not we achieve our objectives and results. The pressure is there to be a better team and to win. More than the results, I believe that everything that has happened affects the players. We, as the coaching staff, have to find a way to lift them up. We have to move on and focus on what's left to play for this season: the entire second half of the campaign is still to come, and we have to do better than in the first, because only then can we achieve our objectives."

The wave of injuries
"It's not the muscle injuries that have been keeping players out. As optimistic as I am and as much as I don't dwell on it, my greatest sadness is leaving here today without having two players available for the next game. It gets to a point where it's impossible not to feel it. But we don't have that many muscle injuries. They are mostly trauma injuries, which are things that happen and we have to push through."

Going into the transfer market
"There's accumulated fatigue, and today you noticed it in the collective energy we had. So many injuries should be a case study. It's unbelievable; I don't know what else can happen to us. We had to make another two substitutions due to injuries. I repeat that it's not an excuse, but it's really difficult not to have a moment when we feel hindered by it. Today I leave here really sad, and even more so because Edu [Quaresma]'s injury seems a bit more serious.

Sporting CP live off our academy, and if we have to rely on those players, we will. We can't go into the transfer market as a knee-jerk reaction, otherwise in two months we'll have forty players in the squad. We have to be cautious and assess if there's any specific need, but we'll always rely on the youngsters."

The late turnaround
"We're going to try to fight for everything we still can: The Taça de Portugal and the league. There's still a long way to go, many points to play for, and we have to have an even better second half of the season than the first. Whoever is in the lead is having an extraordinary season. We are focused on what we want. We really want to compete in the Taça de Portugal final, just as we wanted to compete in this one, but we have to give credit to the opponents, who always believed.

We lost some rebounds, some loose balls, and it's noticeable that collectively we don't have that much energy. Here and there, we weren't as competent in some moves. It's natural that the fans aren't happy, because this club always wants to be in with the chance of a trophy and today we didn't manage it. Both they and we are sad."

No lack of attitude
"There's no lack of attitude at all. We could have made it 2-0 and we didn't, just like against Gil Vicente FC. We just have to understand how to better control the final phase of the games, even with this accumulated fatigue."

Tactical changes after Fotis Ioannidis' injury
"Each player's individual ability is different. We put Francisco Trincão inside, as a left-footer and we put a right-footer playing wide, which isn't something we usually do, but Alisson gives us one-on-one opportunities in the channel. Perhaps we lacked the attacking depth that Fotis [Ioannidis] gives us, because Trincão is a supporting player, but in tactical terms nothing changed, only what each one brings to the team."