The team rack up their latest Liga Portugal win

Sporting Clube de Portugal won their Monday night fixture at home to Moreirense FC 3-0, continuing their strong form in Liga Portugal. The goals came in the final quarter-hour from Luis Suárez, Pedro Gonçalves and Fotis Ioannidis

On a cold night, befitting the beginning of autumn, Rui Borges made three changes to the Sporting Clube de Portugal starting lineup: Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, and Maxi Araújo replaced Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, and Ricardo Mangas.

The first half was a one-sided affair, with Sporting CP looking for goals and Moreirense FC trying to stifle their advances with timewasting tactics. However, there were still chances for the hosts: The first danger came in the 2nd minute, when Zeno Debast found Luis Suárez with a superb pass. The Colombian striker was only denied a goal thanks to André Ferreira's superb save.

Shortly after, Suárez tried his luck again, but the goalkeeper made another save —as he did again in the 12th minute, this time from a Georgios Vagiannidis attempt. Later in that same minute, Gonçalves magically found Suárez, and the centre forward, after rounding André Ferreira, had his shot cleared off the line by Gilberto Batista.

Sporting CP continued to pressure the visitors and inched closer to scoring. Vagiannidis forced another save from André Ferreira, Francisco Trincão curled a shot just wide, and Pedro Gonçalves tried to surprise the goalkeeper with a lob, but to no avail.

In the 24th minute, Suárez once again dribbled past the goalkeeper and shot, but his finish was kept out by the post. Gonçalves also came close with a powerful shot that deflected off Suárez, but André Ferreira reacted to stop.

Before halftime, Trincão's cross ended in an acrobatic shot by Geovany Quenda, although the first period would end 0-0.

The intensity dropped in the second half, with Sporting CP threatening Moreirense FC less frequently. In term, the visitors continued their strategy of anti-football tactics.

In the 54th minute, Rui Borges took off Giorgi Kochorashvili and Ricardo Mangas to bring on Hidemasa Morita and Maxi Araújo.

Shortly after coming on, the Uruguayan was set up by Luis Suárez's backheel. Araújo took out two defenders at once and shot wide with his weaker foot.

In the 69th minute, Gonçalves's well-placed shot tested André Ferreira, who parried out for a corner.

Time was running out, but with just over 15 minutes remaining, Trincão was brought down in the box and referee Hélder Carvalho awarded a penalty.

Called upon to convert, Suárez sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and grabbed his fourth goal of the season.

Fotis Ioannidis replaced Suárez in the 79th minute, and moments later there was a near-perfect counterattack, which ended with Morita passing to Quenda. He teed up Gonçalves, who only failed to score because André Ferreira once again got to the ball.

Araújo and Gonçalves also had shots blocked, before Trincão was fouled again in the Moreirense FC box. This time, conversion duties fell to Gonçalves, who doubled the lead.

With the victory virtually assured, Alisson Santos and João Simões came on to replace Trincão and Gonçalves, and the Brazilian winger made his presence felt in the 94th minute, providing the assist for Fotis Ioannidis’ first goal for Sporting CP.

After the 3-0 win, the team travel to GD Estoril Praia on Saturday at 8:30 pm.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GR], Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 54'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Giorgi Kochorashvili (Hidemasa Morita, 54'), Geovany Quenda, Francisco Trincão (Alisson Santos, 90+1'), Pedro Gonçalves (João Simões, 90+1') and Luis Suárez (Fotis Ioannidis, 79').

The coach looks ahead to Monday's match

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Moreirense FC this Monday in Liga Portugal, and coach Rui Borges previewed the match in a press conference.

Moreirense FC
"I expect Moreirense FC to be at the same level they've been at so far. They've had a great start to the season. I think this is their best ever start to a season. They’re a club I know well; I know what it's like to work in that structure. They are very well balanced, a team that already have some players who have been with the club for three years, a cohesive team, with maturity, and a sense of calm in the last three years -which have been successful.

Therefore, we're in for a tough match against a team highly motivated by what they've achieved. They're a team in the Top 5 in terms of chance creation, and that clearly reflects the quality of the opponent. They will try to make things difficult for us. We have to be focused on what we can do and we want to give it our all, in front of our fans, at home."

His experience with current Moreirense players
"In terms of the principles, some may be present, but the dynamic is completely different. They are different teams and different mindsets, so very different from what Rui Borges did there. Although the general idea is the same, beyond that it's very different.

That’s not what will determine the game. I believe, above all, that it will be a great game, because the opponents are a wonderful team that I personally like -not only because of the connection, but also because of the opportunity they gave me to reach the Portuguese top flight. I have enormous affection for the players and their structure. Now I really want to win, and I know they'll make our lives difficult."

Geovany Quenda
"Quenda has been a starter. He's been working very well, training well. He wasn't a starter in the first few matches, but he is now. He's a kid who has responded. I've said from the beginning, since the first matchday, that he was perhaps the player who left me with the most doubts about who to use in the starting eleven in each match. We always chose to continue with what we were doing in the first few matches, the consistency the team were bringing to the game, that's all.

Quenda is a very mature kid, very focused on what he's achieved and what he wants to achieve. If he weren't, he wouldn't have had the impact he had last season and the beginning of this one. He clearly demonstrates his maturity, his focus and what he wants to achieve for the future. He's an 18-year-old with a distinct personality. He's mature for his age, so I don't need to worry about him being overwhelmed. I do care about him getting better and better.

He had a great game [against Kairat FC], but he needs to be even more consistent in his actions, with more actions, creating even more, which is what will make him even better than he already is. My focus is on him getting better every day, more than the psychology side, because he doesn't need it."

Midfield options
"Zeno [Debast] has come into midfield and could provide that solution, as he did very well last season; we were champions. I'm happy to have that ability in a player who is growing very well and who can get even stronger.

Regarding [João] Simões, he's as prepared to be a starter, as is Giorgi [Kochorashvili]. I repeat, these are options. He's a kid who's been working really hard, and a kid like Quenda, with a different mentality, has been part of the first team for a long time because he has an above-average mentality and ability to stay focused, to understand what he wants for his future. Simões loves Sporting CP unconditionally, and you can see that every moment he's on the pitch, and even how he is on the bench. He's a very passionate kid. I'm happy to be able to count on him, because I think he has a clearly above-average maturity and will be a natural leader over time.”

Kochorashvili's growth
"Giorgi comes from a completely different background than the demands of Sporting CP. He's still trying to understand his teammates and the team’s dynamics. But he's improving. He's listening, and he also loves to learn. He likes to ask questions, and little by little he's adapting and putting his best qualities to work for the team.

Therefore, I'm happy with what he's achieved. Of course, if you compare it to [Hidemasa] Morita, Morita has been playing with Morten [Hjulmand] for two years in a row, and their connection is like nothing else. It takes time, and little by little I've definitely seen him improve."

Managing playing games every three days
"In the 60th minute of that match against Kairat FC, we took off Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suárez. After five minutes, Maxi [Araújo] came off, and after another five, Morten [Hjulmand] came off. It's all about management. Everything is for the greater good, because we'll have games every three days. We have to have the players ready to give their best, because they're not machines -no matter how much we want them to be at their best and meet the demands.

Within the high performance and medical departments, we always strive to do our best, without exposing the player to injury, because we want to have everyone available. That gives me more solutions as a coach and provides more solutions in these weeks in which we play every three days."

Luis Suárez
"I think he's a complete striker. I have no doubt he'll score goals, and Fotis [Ioannidis] will too. I'm very happy to have them both in our squad. They're players who will contribute a lot to the team, to their teammates, and to their teammates' development. There's been a lot of talk about Luis [Suárez's] linkup play, but it's not just that. He makes a lot of deep runs, very good diagonal runs, with good timing, and adds a variability to the attacking game that we didn't have last season, due to the characteristics of the striker we had.
It's natural that this is being talked about more, because we're seeing players like Pote and Trincão becoming even more advanced in their qualities. He adds a great variability to the team, which I like, and which Fotis will also contribute."

Keeping up a winning run
"I don't look at the opponents. At this stage, I'm not really focused on the standings, as we're three points behind FC Porto. We're in the early stages of the season, and there's pressure to win, to do our best, because we always want to win. But there's always a very competent team with its own individual and collective qualities that we have to face. We have to prepare ourselves to the fullest, in the best way possible, to overcome them."

Rui Silva's unavailability
"The severity of Rui Silva's injury isn't a concern. I think he'll be fit for next week, as will [Ousmane] Diomande and Geny [Catamo]."

The coach talks after the Champions League win

Following Sporting Clube de Portugal's 4-1 victory over FC Kairat on the opening matchday of the UEFA Champions League, Rui Borges held a press conference to answer questions from journalists.

The game
"We were competent. At times, we were a bit passive in our reaction to losing the ball and their pressing. We noticed we weren't fresh enough in that regard. That's normal, and we have to handle it better. In the first half, we created some goal-scoring opportunities without scoring, which created some anxiety. We needed to be calmer. We missed the penalty. If we had scored from it, I think the game would have unfolded differently. Trincão's quality was decisive in the first goal. In the second half, we started poorly and were very passive, but João Virgínia played well. We woke up after 15, 20 minutes, with better and clearer decision-making."

Francisco Trincão, Geovany Quenda, Eduardo Quaresma, Iván Fresneda, and Alisson Santos
"I've already said that Trincão was the player who surprised me the most when I came here. I know him better now, I know what he's capable of and what he can bring to the team. His individual quality is above average. As for Quenda, we opted for Geny Catamo early in the season, but that was always my biggest headache. Quenda gives a phenomenal performance every time, as does Eduardo Quaresma, who hasn't played but was very important last season. I know what he's capable of; he's much more mature, and I'm happy with his performance today. Iván Fresneda also had a great game."

Managing energy
"The group have always given a fantastic level of performance, even when they're more tired. (...) Fatigue doesn't just come from the Famalicão game, but also from playing time for the internationals with their respective countries. There are things we can't control. We're getting into this competitive rhythm, and we have to adapt to that. I knew the individual quality would be better than FC Kairat's, but we couldn't let the game get away from us, and at times we did that."

Penalty takers
"Mordan Hjulmand has scored several, but he missed one today. It happens to the best players. In terms of hierarchy, Morten is first in line. He's been taking very good penalties."

The centre back pairing
"Eduardo Quaresma has responded well and deserves to play. I can only use two of them, and I have four. We’ll look at more different pairings, not just this one."

Squad depth
"In the last few days of the transfer window, people said Sporting CP had the worst transfer window, but now they say that we have the most depth. I've always said I was happy with my squad. I trust everyone. It's a great group of friends; they stick together and respect each other a lot. It's very important to feel that every day."

Substitutions
"I tried to refresh the team, because the energy wasn't what we wanted. The response in the last few days of training had been positive, but the energy wasn't there during the game. We made more mistakes in our decision-making than usual. The change was good because it brought more intensity, both in terms of decision-making and reactions. I'm happy with everyone who came in, who gave a very good response."

A 4-1 result against FC Kairat begins the team's European run

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated FC Kairat 4-1 in the first round of the UEFA Champions League, as a brace from Francisco Trincão and goals from Alisson Santos and Geovany Quenda gave them a strong start to the competition.

On a hot night in Lisbon, Rui Borges made three changes to the starting XI, with Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, and Ricardo Mangas replaced by Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, and Maxi Araújo.

The match was a one-sided affair, and the stark differences between the two teams were evident from the outset. The first clear-cut chance came in the 5th minute, when, off a pass by Luis Suárez, Pedro Gonçalves used some majestic skill to beat an opposition defender, and had his shot saved by Sherhan Kalmurza.

In the 11th minute, Gonçalves made another run before trying to set up Suárez, but a clearance for a corner was made in time. The Colombian striker had an effort blocked shortly after, while Gonçalo Inácio met Geovany Quenda's corner kick with a header wide.

In the 17th minute, Giorgi Kochorashvili attempted to score with an acrobatic shot, but to no avail.

Suárez won a penalty when he was brought down inside the area, but Morten Hjulmand was unable to convert, as Sherhan Kalmurza saved the spot kick.

From distance, with a powerful curling shot, Quenda further tested Sherhan Kalmurza, who made another fine save. FC Kairat only managed to provide a chance of their own in the 34th minute: The Kazakh team had a shot from Dastan Satpayev well saved by João Virgínia.

Sporting CP didn't let up until they opened the scoring. Suárez came very close twice, when in the 37th minute he hit the post, and in the 40th minute he shot wide after a cross from Fresneda.

Finally, in the 44th minute, they made it 1-0: Inácio advanced upfield, passed to Kochorashvili, who skillfully cushioned the ball for Francisco Trincão to fire home from distance.

The second half started in lively fashion, with João Virgínia making a top save from Satpayev. The response was not long in coming, and in the 48th minute, Gonçalves crossed and Suárez headed the ball against the crossbar.

João Virgínia kept out shots from Ofri Arad, from distance, and Jorginho, from much closer.

Rui Borges made three changes halfway through the 90th minute: Fotis Ioannidis, Hidemasa Morita, and Alisson Santos came on for Luis Suárez, Giorgi Kochorashvili, and Pedro Gonçalves, respectively.

A crazy five minutes followed, in which Sporting CP scored no fewer than three goals. In the 64th minute, after Fresneda attacked down the right, the ball fell to Trincão, and he struck into the top corner.

After Matheus Reis came on for Maxi Araújo, earning his first minutes of the season, Sporting CP took the lead again in the 66th minute: Quenda broke through the opposition defence and fed Alisson Santos, whose powerful shot made it 3-0. It was the Brazilian's first goal for Sporting CP.

Quenda's turn to score came in the 68th minute, as he moved from the right to the centre of the box, danced past several opponents, and finished successfully.

Zeno Debast replaced Hjulmand, and the pace of the game slowed down. One exception came in the 80th minute, when Trincão could have scored a hat trick.

Five minutes later, the Kazakh team scored a consolation goal with a hit from Edmilson, but the game ended 4-1 in a comprehensive showing.

The team will now host Moreirense FC in Liga Portugal at 8:15pm on Monday, September 22nd. Their UEFA Champions League return is scheduled for October 1, with a trip to play Italian side SSC Napoli.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GK], Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 65'), Morten Hjulmand [C] (Zeno Debast, 69'), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Hidemasa Morita, 60'), Geovany Quenda, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves, (Alisson Santos, 60') and Luis Suárez (Fotis Ioannidis, 60').

The player speaks before the Champions League game

On the eve of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage opener against FC Kairat, Zeno Debast emphasised the importance of the contest.

The Belgian defender also spoke about the meeting with Roberto Carlos and analysed the opposition.

Importance of the match against FC Kairat
"It was important to win in Famalicão and recover for this game, which is also a very important match. We are very well prepared, and tomorrow we'll see how it goes."

Meeting Roberto Carlos
"It was difficult to talk to him, I didn't understand everything he said [laughs], but my friend translated for me. He wished me good luck for the rest of the season. I was happy because he followed me on Instagram afterwards [laughs]. It was incredible to see all those stars. He was a tremendous player."

Dastan Satpaev
"Honestly, I was surprised by his performance in the match against Belgium. He's an important player for FC Kairat. We’ve analysed his way of playing, as well as the team's, and I consider him a good player."

Avoiding surprises
"FC Kairat are a good team. They deserve to be in the UEFA Champions League. They eliminated Celtic FC and other strong teams, but we're also ready."

Praise from Rui Borges
"I thank the manager for his kind words; it's always nice to receive praise. But I'm keeping my feet on the ground and continuing to work hard to improve several aspects. We're a team of young players, and it's normal for there to be areas to work on, but I feel that Sporting CP is the right place for me to continue growing. I made the right choice in coming here. At the time, when I spoke with the directors, I realized it was the right club for me to continue developing. More than a club, it's a family. It's good to be here."

The coach gives a press conference before the game against FC Kairat

Ahead of Sporting CP’s first 2025/26 UEFA Champions League game, this Thursday at home to FC Kairat, coach Rui Borges fielded questions from the media in a press conference.

Returning to UEFA Champions League action
"Last year, playing in the world's best club competition was a dream for us as a coaching staff. This year, it continues to be that. A new phase is beginning in the competition, and we want to make the most of it.

The players will be highly motivated; they want to make the most of the competition; they know it's a great showcase for us. We must reinforce Sporting CP's status as a "Champions League side," which is important because of the greatness of the club. But we'll take it one game at a time and try to win them all. That's always the goal, and we won't stray too far from that."

Objectives in the competition
"The goal will always be to reach the play-off stage. We want to advance beyond the league stage and have enormous ambition, even though we'll be facing some very good teams."

Players in doubt for the game
"Pedro Gonçalves and Hidemasa Morita are both in the squad."

Avoiding surprises
"Regardless of whether this is our opponents’ UEFA Champions League debut, they are here on merit, especially after beating Celtic FC -an opponent we faced in preseason and against whom we struggled.

Celtic FC failed to score a goal in two games against FC Kairat. FC Kairat, in turn, had less possession and more chances, and are currently top of their league. They have already played 33 games and have the tightest defence in the division, and this clearly demonstrates the difficulties we will face tomorrow at home.

My players are aware of the difficulties, regardless of the opponents’ name recognition."

His record in Europe
"I have ten wins and two draws in the UEFA Conference League. Our short coaching career speaks for itself. I hadn't lost in Europe until I arrived at Sporting CP. These are different stages in my career, so I want to look at the present, not the past.

The ambition is always the same at this club, regardless of the game. The President's statements reflect the enormous ambition of the club and the team as a whole. We know the club we represent and what we want to do: win. We'll face big sides, but that's how we grow, by facing the best."

Squad solutions
"If Pedro Gonçalves doesn't play -and he is called up-, then we have other solutions. We have Maxi [Araújo], Fotis [Ioannidis], Alisson, and Lucas Anjos, who's also in the squad."

The coach looks back at the win in Famalicão

After the 1-2 win against FC Famalicão, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges reviewed the match in a press conference.

Analysis of the win
"We were very competent and very intense. We knew we had to be very strong in the duels, because they are a very strong team physically, who commit a lot of fouls and are well organised. It’s a difficult ground to play at: I don’t think the pitch was in very good condition either; the ball bounced a lot, and we lost a lot of possession. FC Famalicão were fortunate enough to make it 1-0 from a set piece, and before that, we could have scored, but we responded well. We lost our composure in the space of five minutes, lost possession, and allowed FC Famalicão to build transitions, but we always tried to correct the situation. It was a good victory at a difficult ground."

Fotis Ioannidis's debut
"He came on and did very well, in a different position in which he had to defend. He was very committed to what we asked of him. He's very good with the ball, connecting play inside. In a more central area, where he feels more comfortable, he did very well holding up the ball, finding space and letting the team breathe. In the final minutes, the game broke up a bit more, but we controlled it well."

The decision to finish the game with three defenders
"That was only because FC Famalicão put two forwards on. It was to try to balance those last five minutes, because we spent the entire game playing man-to-man. It was to protect us, due to fatigue and due to Inácio's yellow card, which could have been a problem. We gained another strong player in duels, in Edu [Quaresma]. It's not that FC Famalicão were creating any danger; it was just to tighten us up.”

Playing after the international break
"In this game, the challenge was the opposition, who were in third place, unbeaten, had conceded zero goals, and had not lost at home in 2025. My team are well aware of what they have to do on the pitch, but they also know that sometimes commitment is what wins games. That made the difference, but we never lost our focus, and the team's attitude was fantastic. We faced a great team at home, with passionate fans who make a difference.”

Quenda's performance
"Quenda played well. Geny played in the first few games, and we were coming off some good performances, so I kept the core together. His performance surprised even me. Last year, he fell off a bit at the end of the season, but I have no doubt he'll have a great campaign this year. It's just a matter of waiting for his opportunities. João Simões came on for ten minutes and was spectacular, Fotis immediately understood the team's dynamic... I'm fortunate to lead a great group of players."

João Virgínia's debut
"He gave a fantastic performance and brought calm to the team. I’m happy with his debut; he works hard and has a fantastic personality, connecting with the group."

A third game in a row with the team going behind
"I don't feel the team switch off. In Madeira, it was from a set piece, and here it was too, but I want to emphasise the team's competitive attitude and that, despite the level of physical exhaustion, they gave a fantastic response after going 1-0 down. We kept our emotions in check, and this cohesion and balance were crucial in turning the result around."

A 1-2 win on the road takes the team to 12 points

Sporting Clube de Portugal took a 1-2 away win against FC Famalicão on Liga Portugal Matchday 5, as Pedro Gonçalves and Luís Suárez both found the net on the return from the international break.

Up against a side who had not lost a single home game in 2025, and who had opened the campaign with three wins and a draw, Sporting CP had to make adjustments to the starting lineup. With Rui Silva and Geny Catamo ruled out, along with the previously confirmed absences of Hidemasa Morita, Ousmane Diomande, Daniel Bragança, and Nuno Santos, coach Rui Borges reshuffled the pack: João Virgínia – making his full debut in 2025/26 – occupied the goalkeeping spot, while Geovany Quenda and Georgios Vagiannidis started for the first time this season. Maxi Araújo returned to the squad after injury on the bench, alongside Fotis Ioannidis, who made his first appearance for Sporting CP.

The game began with Sporting CP testing Famalicão's solidity early on. A well-worked set piece saw Hjulmand head into Luís Suárez's path, but his acrobatic finish went over. The home team immediately responded with a powerful shot from Rodrigo Pinheiro, which took a deflection and soared wide.

The game took a turn for Sporting CP after Quenda had been unable to convert a one-on-one with goalkeeper Lazar Carević. FC Famalicão turned a set piece into a goal, thanks to a header from Gustavo Sá, their captain.

However, the 1-0 lead lasted no more than five minutes, and it was a former FC Famalicão player who scored for the first time in 2025/26. In the 22nd minute, Quenda, on the right, found Gonçalves' perfect movement with a through ball. The number 8, having already outmaneuvered the last defender, slotted his shot home between the goalkeeper's legs for his fourth goal of the league season.

Shortly after, following a mistake by FC Famalicão when clearing away, Trincão curled a left footed shot just outside the post.

Suárez then put the ball into the net, but the move was flagged for offside.

Rui Borges's men struggled to make progress through their combinations, and he home side continued to cause problems with dangerous crosses. In one such situation, striker Elisor rose to head the ball not far off target.

To kick off the second half, a shot against the post from Quenda, set up by Ricardo Mangas, got the action underway. Later, following a corner kick, Trincão tried his luck from outside the box, but to no avail.

Sporting CP finally turned the scoreline around through their persistence and Suárez's clinical finishing. Gonçalves and Trincão combined inside, a shot ricocheted back and 'Pote', cleverly, opted to pass wide for Suárez to score.

From then on, the match became more intense, as well as rain making an appearance for the final stretch.

Famalicão tried further crosses to trouble Sporting CP, and Rui Borges brought on Alisson Santos, João Simões, and Eduardo Quaresma -the latter two getting their first minutes of the season -to help freshen up the team.

In stoppage time, a brilliant individual effort by João Simões not only shook off the opposing pressure but also forced Carević to make a save.

After a win on the road in the league, the team are back in action on Thursday night, welcoming Kazakhstan's FC Kairat in the UEFA Champions League.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GK], Geovany Quenda, Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 67'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Giorgi Kochorashvili (Fotis Ioannidis, 67'), Francisco Trincão (Eduardo Quaresma, 90+2'), Pedro Gonçalves (Alisson Santos, 88') and Luis Suárez (João Simões, 88').

The coach looks at the game against FC Famalicão

In a press conference held on Friday, Rui Borges previewed Sporting Clube de Portugal's away trip to take on FC Famalicão. The Liga Portugal Matchday 5 game takes place on Saturday at 8:30pm.

Previewing the game
"It will undoubtedly be a great game, against a good team who have started the season very well. They’ve yet to concede a goal and are very competitive and aggressive in duels for the ball. As a unit, they resort to fouls a lot at times, and in 2025 they have yet to lose at home. This clearly demonstrates their quality. A team that is always very difficult to face at home awaits for us, and that is especially so when they are so motivated. It's a very difficult fixture against good opponents, but we want to give a good response based on what we've achieved so far. We want to get back to winning ways, continue on our path, and demonstrate the quality we've had in order to move forward and, most importantly, get the three points."

The transfer market and the option of Jota Silva
"The best thing about the transfer market was that we managed to maintain the core of our squad. We only lost one key player, and kept Pedro Gonçalves, Gonçalo Inácio, Morten Hjulmand, Francisco Trincão, Maxi Araújo, Zeno Debast... They were all very important players for our second consecutive title. Our biggest desire was to maintain this core, and we deserve credit for that.

Regarding Jota: From the end of last season, we had clearly identified what we wanted, and our objectives regarding Jota and the way we wanted to bring him in were very clear. The structure did the best they could, and I would have loved to have had him here -but within a framework we had identified. There were other names we could have considered as a solution, but they were more difficult to sign. However, there are two parties involved, in Sporting CP and Nottingham Forest FC, and unfortunately, we couldn't get it done. I was sad, especially for the player, whom I really like.”

Jeremiah St. Juste
"The president [Frederico Varandas] has said all that needs to be said. We had identified early on that he would be fifth choice in the position. With the gravity of the situation, the solution involved his departure. We were all on the same page, and that was made clear in the president's words.

Decisions at Sporting CP involve everyone; everyone has an opinion. We always do what we think is best for the group and for Sporting CP. The atmosphere is good."

Geovany Quenda and Georgios Vagiannidis
"They brought more quality to the group [when they came off the bench]. They're ready to play, and I've already said that it's my fault -because I can only field 11 players. I can't play with 12 or 13. Sometimes it's very difficult, and I have to make decisions. I'm here to do that, and I'll take responsibility for the decisions I make. They're two great players who have been waiting for their chance to play since the beginning. I don't know if that will be tomorrow or not, but they'll get the opportunity. I hope they perform at their best when they do."

Ousmane Diomande, Hidemasa Morita, and Maxi Araújo
"Ousmane Diomande and Hidemasa Morita are out of the game. Maxi Araújo is a doubt. He trained today, and we'll make a decision tomorrow."

Portuguese clubs’ transfer activity
"Everyone improved as a team. Our greatest achievement was maintaining the foundation of a team who have been champions in consecutive seasons, which speaks volumes about our quality. That was our greatest desire, and we achieved it. Even outside the big leagues, teams have become more competitive with player acquisitions. FC Famalicão are a good example of this, as are Gil Vicente FC and Moreirense FC. The teams have added more quality and been more rigorous in their selection."

Fotis Ioannidis
"He was a great acquisition for us. He's a player who will provide us with many solutions, whether as an alternative to Luis Suárez or playing alongside him. I'm happy to have him on our books and I believe he'll add a lot of quality."

The possible need for a winger
"I have so many. Maxi Araújo, Ricardo Mangas... Last year, we had no solutions and we were league champions with the youngsters from the B team playing. They're ready to respond and are waiting for an opportunity. I'm happy with the squad I have. I would have liked to have had Jota Silva too, but it wasn't something we had 100% control over. We have no regrets, and I'll say it again: The biggest merit of our transfer market work was being able to keep a large part of the squad."

Nuno Santos
"It's a big pity that I can’t use him Although he's a bit of a nuisance, he's a positive nuisance. I'd really like to have him as a winger and a full back. His injury is a more chronic one, more confusing. Nuno Santos has been a true warrior, and it takes a lot of resilience to overcome this. He's a great example and inspiration for us."

Young players from the B Team
"We have a lot of faith in the B team, who have had a very good start to the season. There’s José Silva, Bruno Ramos, Eduardo Felicíssimo, Rayan Lucas, Flávio Gonçalves, Lucas Anjos, Mauro Couto, Salvador Blopa... Rodrigo Ribeiro, who trains with us daily, has grown in a short time. Expectations were too high in the early stages of his career, and he's now experiencing gradual growth. We have great faith in the B team's ability and in our individual quality."

Willingness to respond
"The performances have been good. Against FC Porto, that wasn't as good as in previous games, but it wasn't a bad performance. We want to respond, we want to play well and win, regardless of the opponents. We respect the opponents, who have quality. I see the team as very focused, rigorous, and ambitious; it's a fantastic group. When they come to the game, they are very connected. They have a daily camaraderie that is evident in the game; the collective connection is very good. The ambition to be champions again is infinite."

The squad work with FC Famalicão in mind

Sporting Clube de Portugal held another training session this Thursday, ahead of their trip to FC Famalicão on Liga Portugal Matchday 5.

In a typically intense morning session, Rui Borges was able to work with players who had been away on international duty during the recent break in domestic competition.

The squad will train again on Friday morning behind closed doors, followed by a pre-match press conference with the coach, scheduled for 12:30 p.m., at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.