The Sporting CP captain previews the Taça da Liga final

Morten Hjulmand previewed the Taça da Liga final against SL Benfica in a press conference before Saturday's game, and recalled the last two finals played by Sporting CP.

“They were balanced finals, but there were some circumstances that made the difference. In the first game against FC Porto [Taça de Portugal] a red card changed things and in the second game [Supertaça] we lost some concentration during the second half. Tomorrow will be different and it will be easy for us to be focused and concentrated during the entire 90 minutes.”

“It is always very important to play and beat a rival. Furthermore, we know that it is a final and that finals are there to be won. For all of us, the club and the team, it is very important to win. We are always dissatisfied when this does not happen," he stated.

The captain said of the opposition: “Honestly, we analyse SL Benfica as a whole and the way they play. We have prepared for the game in the best possible way and just focused on that. Remembering the second half by SL Benfica at Alvalade, they made some tactical changes, mainly in their pressing, and that created some difficulties for us in getting the ball out. Tomorrow I don't know if they will do the same thing, but we have prepared ourselves for everything."

Hjulmand also spoke about the absence of Hidemasa Morita – the latest player to suffer an injury–, saying “that the team will miss him because he is a very important player.”

“We have many games and players who play all 90 minutes after 90 minutes. The same thing happens at other clubs. As players we have to be responsible to be in top shape, because if we are not prepared for this, injuries appear, as the fixture list is so tight. We are seeing a lot of injuries in the rest of Europe and that is not good news.”

The coach looks ahead to the Taça da Liga final

This Saturday, Sporting Clube de Portugal play SL Benfica in the Taça da Liga, and coach Rui Borges spoke about the challenge ahead in a pre-match press conference.

“I'm happy to be in the final, no matter who the opponents are, and very focused on ourselves. As for the changes at SL Benfica, the main principles do not change. There will be changes to individual characteristics, which will add some details to the team, but the idea does not change. We are prepared for whatever SL Benfica may or may not implement in the game, offensively and defensively," he stated.

"I believe there may be one or two changes in relation to their last game, despite their having enjoyed a beautiful game against SC Braga, but, more than that, it is important to prepare our team for the demands of the match. We have had a few days to work, a few days to recover and a lot of players were fatigued, so we will have to be careful, but the team are in good form and will give a good response."

“I don’t believe 100% that they play with the same team as in the semifinal, but we will be prepared for what SL Benfica may want from the game, which is to come in strong, just like they did against SC Braga. We have to be prepared for this and much more focused on what we can control as a team.”

With Hidemasa Morita out due to injury, the coach did not reveal who will play in midfield, saying that this will not change anything.

“We play with eleven players and I never dwell on difficulties, but rather I look for solutions. We will be competitive, we will be a good team, we will maintain the courage we have had and we will have a good game, regardless of whether we play Simões, Brito or others who have already played there. It’s up to me to find solutions, especially because we have other players, and I know that we will be competitive -regardless of who plays," he explained, before saying that Gonçalo Inácio "is one of the possibilities."

Sporting CP have several players out injured or fatigued, but Borges commented that “I don't focus on that. The team is tired, and that's part of football, especially because some players are carrying injuries, and we run the risk of losing even more of them, but we can't get attached to that. We are in a final, we are at a big club and the demand must always be to give our best. If we always do our best, whether tired or not, there are no advantages. The game is 11 against 11 and we have to do our best. If we do our best we will be competitive and we will win.”

“Because it’s a final, you can’t be tired. The desire to win and add trophies to the club's history must overcome any physical or mental fatigue. When the game starts, I believe the team will be prepared and will give a good response”, he added.

The coach comments on the move into the Taça da Liga final

Rui Borges talked about the 1-0 win for Sporting CP against FC Porto in his post-match press conference, and began by highlighting “the tranquility, the commitment and the rigour” of his players.

“I'm happy with the way they performed, with an enormous capacity to compete despite the fatigue, and an ambition and thirst to win that dignifies the club we represent,” he stated.

“The credit goes to the players. In the first half, we let FC Porto connect between the midfield and defensive lines and it took us a while to understand that. Even so, in the first half we had some quality on the ball, but I felt we lacked energy. During the break, I adjusted a few things. We improved in the second half, were faster at moving around, understood the spaces, were more dynamic, won more balls and grew. This gave us greater energy -and we had this energy until the end," he summarised.

"We dropped back a little more after the goal, but FC Porto weren't able to create any dangerous chances.”

Asked about the victories taken in a short space of time against rivals SL Benfica and FC Porto, Borges responded that, above all, he is “happy to be coach of Sporting CP” and “happy to be able to play in a final."

“I've never had this opportunity, and now I get it. My concern is to make the players believe in what we transmit to them, and we will get better. The room for improvement is immense."

“When we have everyone available, we will be stronger, because we will have more solutions and the players who are out add a lot," he continued.

Asked about using Iván Fresneda as a starter, the coach stated that the young Spanish full-back “had the opportunity and took it."

“He’s dedicated to the club and someone I believe in. He has worked very well, with a very good personality, and had a wonderful game. I'm very focused on the players I have and pay little attention to the transfer market."

"Maxi Araújo was important due to the energy he has, so Geovany Quenda’s rotation out was strategic. The important thing is that the players feel that they are connected, regardless of the minutes they play."

As for Viktor Gyökeres, who experienced discomfort in the first half, the Sporting CP coach commented that it was “a knock that was nothing to worry about,” while Matheus Reis’ forced injury “was the worst part of the game."

“We have to be even more competent on Saturday to win the trophy. I just want to play in the final, regardless of the opponent. SL Benfica and SC Braga are two great teams and we will be prepared."

The team win against FC Porto with a goal from Gyökeres

Sporting Clube de Portugal secured a place in the Taça da Liga final after beating FC Porto 1-0 in the semifinal, played at the Estádio Municipal Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, in Leiria.

Ahead of the game, coach Rui Borges asked his side for ambition and pragmatism, and this was the recipe for success, coupled with a 58th minute strike from Viktor Gyökeres to decide the contest.

This was the third time that Sporting CP and FC Porto faced each other this season, after a victory for each side – 2-0 in Liga Portugal at Alvalade and 3-4, after extra time, for FC Porto in the Supertaça.

Borges made two changes to the starting eleven that had featured against both SL Benfica and Vitória SC: Iván Fresneda took over on the right flank instead of Eduardo Quaresma, and Maxi Araújo was the starting left winger in place of Geovany Quenda left.

Gonçalo Inácio was back from injury and Ricardo Esgaio from a three-game suspension, with both on the bench.

On their first attack, Sporting CP could have caused a lot of danger, but Geny Catamo was unable to send the ball to Gyökeres  inside the area. After the first ten minutes, FC Porto responded with an attack from Samu, but Fresneda came out to clean up in the nick of time. However, as a result of this move, Matheus Reis picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Quenda, as Maxi retreated to the left flank.

FC Porto's Nico González shot slightly wide of Franco Israel's goal, and close to half an hour in, Rodrigo Mora also tried his luck from the edge of the area.

Geny Catamo had a blocked shot that lifted the team, and also sent in a low cross that no teammate was able to reach. Sporting CP grew into the contest and proved more capable of finding ways to attack in the final stretch of the first half. Gyökeres was called upon from deep more frequently. On one such occasion, he cut in from the left to the middle, then struck wide.

Quenda, who had already seen a shot blocked, tried again from outside the area, but goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos was not fooled by the deflection that the ball took and made the save.

Although Rui Borges' men ended the first half clearly on top, the score remained 0-0 at the break.

In the second period, Sporting CP took control of the game and made it 1-0 with the first big opportunity of the game: After a good attacking combination, Quenda received the ball in the 'D' and, with a touch from the defender, picked out Gyökeres, who held his nerve when through on Cláudio Ramos and found the net. It was his fifth goal in six games against FC Porto, and took the team closer to the final.

Immediately, FC Porto tried to react, mainly through crosses, but without their attacks requiring much work from Israel. At the other end, Trincão was set free in the area, but an awkward shot failed to cause problems.

At the hour of play, Rui Borges made the first substitution,  replacing the young João Simões with Hidemasa Morita.

The best attempt at an equaliser for FC Porto was a shot over Samu, after a Sporting CP error, and another shot from distance from Otávio, saved relatively smoothly by Israel.

Sporting CP controlled things until the end, and made their way through to the final. They will play either SL Benfica or SC Braga on Saturday, at 7:45 pm, in their eighth appearance in the final of a competition which they have won four times.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Iván Fresneda (Eduardo Quaresma, 89’), Ousmane Diomande, Jeremiah St. Juste, Matheus Reis (Geovany Quenda, 14'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (João Simões, 69'), Geny Catamo, Maxi Araújo, Francisco Trincão (Conrad Harder, 89') and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach talks about his side's approach to the Taça da Liga semifinal

This Tuesday at 7:45 pm, Sporting CP travel to the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, in Leiria, to face FC Porto in the semi-final of the Taça da Liga.

On the eve of the game, coach Rui Borges talked about his side's approach to the fixture against their rivals.

“Above all, there is ambition. We have some players out injured who cannot make their contribution, and we have to be careful in how we manage the squad, but above that is the ambition to reach the final. There is always tiredness, but I know that players always want to play on Wednesdays and Sundays, rather than just from Sunday to Sunday," he began by telling the media..

Borges explained that Gonçalo Inácio has already trained with the squad and "could be an option” against FC Porto, while Marcus Edwards is “in doubt."

"FC Porto are a very dynamic team in offensive terms, and intense defensively. In addition, they played just 14 minutes of their match this past weekend. They didn’t have the workload that we had in an intense game in Guimarães. All of this can bring with it different things, but I focus on what we can control," he stated.

“Our motivation has to be enormous. Our players are motivated by what the game represents. They want to win, earn trophies for Sporting CP and add to the club's greatness. More than anything, our ambition must prevail," he reaffirmed.

Furthermore, the coach also has no doubts about the team's confidence, although there has been little time to train in the current sequence of games.

“The players are confident. We are still in all competitions and we will try to win them, as that is the demand at this club. We don’t need to gain confidence, but rather to acquire new behaviours, which will take time, because we haven’t had time to work either. There will always be a lack of time, but I feel that there is learning to be done,” commented Borges.

“The players have been fantastic, regardless of the results. The team responded very well to the demand required in the games and the transformation towards the new ideas. I'm very happy with the team's response. We have been competitive, but we have to be even more so and be able to be competitive for longer during the game."

“Sometimes, we have to have the humility to realise that we are not going to have as good moments as we want, and be more practical and not give confidence to the opponents -which has happened to us in the second halves against Benfica and Vitória SC. We have to be more intelligent and more practical at times, understanding what the opponents are giving us."

As for the Taça da Liga, he explained that “We are in the semi-finals and we want to reach the final. I've had ambition since I was born, which is perhaps why I arrived at Sporting CP. But to win the trophy we still have to win two games."

On FC Porto, who are on a run of four consecutive victories without conceding a goal, he stated that  “FC Porto are in a very positive phase of the season. They are a very strong team in defensive terms, strong in duels and, therefore, we have to be demanding of ourselves. In offensive terms, there are dynamics with their inside wingers and with Galeno as a false full-back, but I believe the team are prepared for what they will encounter. We will be strong in our own way and I believe it will be a good game.”

Regarding the options for the goalkeeper position, Borges repeated that “I have confidence in the three goalkeepers: Franco Israel, Vladan Kovačević and Diego Callai."

Finally, asked about potential changes to the squad in the transfer window, the coach of Os Leões assured, straight away, that Iván Fresneda, despite the rumours surrounding him, “is an option for the game, whether it be against FC Porto or the final."

"Any changes are natural things in football. When someone leaves, whether that be Fresneda or not, we will be lacking in some positions, so we will have to go into the market."

The coach reviews the draw with Vitória SC

After the 4-4 draw between the Sporting Clube de Portugal and Vitória SC, coach Rui Borges spoke in his post-match press conference. He began by expressing his gratitude for the strong support received from the stands.

"The fans were important, as they were in the last game, and will be from now on to help the team, who cannot afford to switch off. I believe that the road through to the end of the season will be good for all of us and I thank the fans for having made the effort to travel here. It is very important for the team to see this affection and support", he began by telling journalists at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.

"We had 60 very competent minutes. In some moments we showed better quality, but we had 60 very good minutes. Then we lost balance and control of the game, as well as emotional control after it became 2-3. The team were very reactive and not very proactive. We were very slow, letting Vitória SC believe. We dropped off and were penalised, and we shouldn't have let the scoreline change like that," he explained.

"We dropped two points, and at Sporting CP the only objective is to win, especially when you are 1-3 up."

"We had a fairly competent game, but Vitória SC grew when it went to 2-3 and we were very passive. These are growing pains. We lacked intensity. We were very passive and we cannot be like that. The work will take time, especially because the team have habits that are different, but within what we have worked on so far, they were very competent in the process. They are focused and really want to be better."

The team equalise late against Vitória SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 4-4 at Vitória SC on Liga Portugal Matchday 17, in a game that included a hat-trick for Viktor Gyökeres.

In front of a practically full D. Afonso Henriques Stadium and with a strong presence of Sportinguistas, Rui Borges opted for the same starting XI as against SL Benfica, whilst the most notable inclusion on the bench was Alexandre Brito, a 19-year-old midfielder seeking to make his debut.

Sporting CP scored after just two minutes: Hidemasa Morita passed to Geovany Quenda and he served up a ball to Viktor Gyökeres, who shot in off Óscar Rivas.

Shortly afterwards, they made another attack, with Geny Catamo's fierce shot saved by Bruno Varela.

Vitória SC responded after seven minutes, when Tiago Silva scored with a free kick to equalise.

Sporting CP took the lead again before the quarter of an hour, as the frantic start continued.  Quenda intercepted a pass and once again set up Gyökeres, who took his chance well to make it 1-2.

For Vitória SC, Gustavo Silva's shot went close to the post, and another opportunity ws denied by Ousmane Diomande. At the other end, Morten Hjulmand then had a shot from outside the box go slightly wide.

Quenda's shot over the top was the final Sporting CP effort of the half, which ended 1-2.

In the second half, it was Vitória SC's turn to come out stronger and more offensive, seeking to put more pressure on Sporting CP in the midfield. In response, Rui Borges decided, in the 55th minute, to bring Maxi Araújo on in place of Geovany Quenda.

The substitution paid off, as, within minutes, the Uruguayan headed an assist to Gyökeres, who grabbed his 21st goal in Liga Portugal and 30th of the season for Sporting CP.

Trailing by two, Vitória SC went after Sporting CP again, and managed to create danger with a ball that deflected close to his own goal by Hjulmand.

Eventually, the home team reduced the score to 2-3, through Kaio César, who went on to test Franco Israel again.

Vitória SC then equalised and took the lead, thanks to João Mendes and then Michel in the 85th minute.

Iván Fresneda and Conrad Harder came on to replace Eduardo Quaresma and Hidemasa Morita, and the Dane threatened with a shot wide within a minute. But it would be in stoppage time that, Sporting CP finally managed to draw level: A cross from Maxi Araújo found Francisco Trincão, who shot in to make it 4-4.

Sporting CP will play again next Tuesday, facing FC Porto in the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Eduardo Quaresma (Iván Fresneda, 87'), Ousmane Diomande, Jeremiah St. Juste, Matheus Reis, Geny Catamo (João Simões, 79'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Conrad Harder, 87'), Geovany Quenda (Maxi Araújo, 55'), Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach previews the meeting with Vitória SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal play this Friday away at Vitória SC, in the fixture that marks the midway point of the Liga Portugal season.

For new coach Rui Borges, it is a meeting with a team that he started the campaign in charge of, but he does not consider that he will have an advantage due to this.

“We are not going to be the better side just because the coach knows the opposition, because their players also know the coach, and they know our way of working, so it's all subjective. It will be a very difficult game against a team who play very well, who have very good individuals that, at any moment, can make a difference, and at a difficult ground, with fervent fans and against a team who are even more difficult to play against at home -where so far they have only lost to FC Porto. It will be a very difficult game for us, regardless of whether we know the team or not, because they will add things that we don't know about. Still, as I said before the game with SL Benfica, we will focus more on ourselves than on the opponent, and on what we control. If we are capable of this, we will have a great game and come away with a very important victory -but also a very difficult one to get.”

Having now had a week of work with his new squad, and having made his debut in the dugout, Borges was asked if the team will be closer to what he wants.

“Against SL Benfica we were already a Sporting CP in the image of Rui Borges: Competitive, intense... at times we were better with the ball, at other times not so much, but that's part of it. Even in the future, when players feel more identified and there is greater identification with the gameplan, we will make mistakes at times. Therefore, above all, the principles of  competitiveness have to be there; not only against SL Benfica, but also against Vitória SC, which will be a very difficult game. Football is increasingly competitive, more intense, it requires more high-intensity actions and we have to adapt to this because, otherwise, we won't get the inspiration I mentioned in my presentation," he continued.
"It's not just inspiration: The attitude and intensity have to be there, and the players had that in the last game. Therefore, the great difficulty and the great challenge is to maintain this consistency in terms of intensity, competitiveness and quality of play, which I believe will gradually get better, as well as having greater confidence. We will have good games, I have no doubt about that, and we will be a great Sporting CP.”

"We are competing in all competitions, so we cannot be happier and more optimistic and the players have to feel that. They are the reigning league champions and they have to keep that in mind. They were champions because they are good and, therefore, there can be no distrust when things are not going so well, especially because distrust is the worst thing you can have in a football team. We did well against SL Benfica and in the moments when we weren't so good, they stuck together."

Asked about the fight for the Liga Portugal title, the Sporting CP coach highlighted that everything is open.

“Favourites? Maybe we are because we are the current champions, but otherwise it will be a difficult title race, hard fought until the last round. We will do everything to become two-time champions, we cannot let our guard down and we cannot stop being competitive and consistent. Whoever is most consistent will be champions. Therefore, my challenge is to make the team better, knowing that there will be very difficult games and that we will need to win through small details. Nothing is easy, nothing is gifted and football is increasingly competitive.”

With the transfer market open, he was pressed on potential comings and goings, but said that he is calm.

“What I can control is my work, regardless of the players who come in or who leave. That's football. So honestly, I don't worry about it too much because it's a waste of time. That's  football and we have to be able to live with it, that's why they say that the coach has to have a great capacity to adapt and I don't shy away from that. I have to have the ability to adapt, to understand the context, understand the players we have and to perform well."

“The club don't need to give me guarantees about players staying. There are clauses in contracts and, if at some point they are met, the club cannot do anything if the player wants to leave. So I don't focus on that and I'm not worried. Frankly, I'm just worried about tomorrow's game, which will be difficult. The transfer market doesn’t bother me," said the Sporting CP coach.

A Geny Catamo goal earns a 1-0 home win against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to the top of the Liga Portugal table with a 1-0 win over SL Benfica 1-0 on Matchday 16. Geny Catamo scored the only goal of the game, half an hour into the contest.

Rui Borges' first game in charge of Sporting CP saw a change in the lineup, with the return of Hidemasa Morita, who hadn't played since the beginning of the month.

Sporting CP started with Franco Israel in goal, Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande and Jeremiah. St Juste in the defensive trio, Geny Catamo on the right wing and Matheus Reis on the left, with the attack made up of Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres and Geovany Quenda.

In the first five minutes, Sporting CP twice sent the ball into the side netting, courtesy of Ousmane Diomande from a free kick and Catamo from open play.

Aktürkoglu had an effort on target for SL Benfica, but Franco Israel held it with ease.

At th other end,Trincão had a shot saved by Trubin, then put in a cross for Quenda to meet unmarked at the back post. The goalkeeper had to react quickly to make his second stop.

Israel also made a super save as Kökçü tested him off a free kick that he met on the drop.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 29th minute. Viktor Gyökeres broke away from marker Tiago Araújo and, close to the line, passed low to the far post, where Catamo appeared to convert the chance and make it 1-0,

Trincão and Gyökeres keptTrubin busy before the interval, but the game went into halftime with a single-goal advantage.

It was SL Benfica who approached the restart strongest, and threatened an equaliser -only denied by Franco Israel.

After 70 minutes, coach Rui Borges then made three substitutions, bringing on Maxi Araújo, João Simões and Iván Fresneda for Geovany Quenda, Hidemasa Morita and Eduardo Quaresma. Shortly afterwards, he introduced Conrad Harder for Francisco Trincão.

SL Benfica had more of the ball and were more dangerous, as Sporting CP lacked quality in the final third. However, they came close to doubling their lead in the 85th minute: A quick move saw Catamo stride through the middle, with Araújo and Gyökeres on each side waiting for the ball, but the winger decided to shoot and had his strike blocked by Tiago Araújo.

Next, Gyökeres again rushed away from Tomás Araújo, but Trubin prevented the Swedish striker's shot from going in.

The score remained 1-0 and Sporting CP won the derby, moving them joint top with FC Porto in the table. They start 2025 with a game on Friday, January 3rd, at Vitória SC.

The coach reflects on the win in his debut against SL Benfica

Rui Borges expressed his happiness with Sporting CP's derby win over SL Benfica in his first post-match press conference, as he reflected on the victory.

“I didn’t perform a miracle; this is all down to the players. We just tried to make them believe the few things we talked about, with few changes -nothing extraordinary- and they believed. We knew that the team would be far from what we want, but we knew they would give a very good response. We had a great first half, in which we could have scored more goals, and the second half was true to what I said about inspiration and attitude," he explained.

"The first half was inspiration and attitude and the second was more attitude than inspiration, but that's part of the game. The team fell off a little physically, but they held on as a team. Their spirit was important, and I had asked this of the team -that when we weren't so good on the ball, they should draw on the energy from the outside. That energy was fantastic during the 96 minutes and we were fair winners."

“It's still only three very good points” for Sporting CP. “The players focused, above all, on what we had to do to win, and they did it very well. Being top of the table is a consequence of the victory and now it's time to keep working, because on Friday we have a very difficult game away at Vitória SC," he continued by saying.

"Today the players can celebrate and they have the right to. Tomorrow we all have to think about the game against Vitória SC, which will be as difficult a game as today's match”.

"My teams have had quality and been very competitive and we're not going to run away from that. These are the club's demands. Sporting CP has its own soul, and we have to have this attitude from start to finish in every game. If so, regardless of everything, the fans will stick with us until the end. Today they were very important for us. I want the energy to be like this until the end, both from the players and the fans. Because, if it is like this, we will be very happy. I have no doubt about that.”